Communication of Criminal Justice

¶ … effective communication in the criminal justice profession. Good verbal and nonverbal communication is essential in every area of the criminal justice system, and developing good communications techniques is essential for criminal justice professionals. These skills can be used with other professionals, in interrogations, and in just about every aspect of a criminal justice career.

The process of effective verbal and nonverbal communication between criminal justice professionals entails everything from writing case decisions in the judicial setting, to writing police reports, internal communications, public relations material, and communications regarding cases, interviews of suspects, and much more. All of these communications between professionals follow a process of information being found, verified, and used to advance the field or the case in some way. It also uses primary and secondary sources for the information, and the process also entails several stages in the information flow. These stages are informal discussion, formal reports, exchange of information, sharing of information, and public information. All of these stages will not be utilized in every situation, but information flow is based on these stages, which all add to communication flow.

Of course, communication can be misinterpreted, ineffective, and non-existent in many situations, so there are barriers to this process. Potential barriers also include translation of non-English speaking suspects and defendants, interpretation of written reports and outcomes, omission of facts (either willingly or unwillingly), faulty or unusual language, and faulty reasoning, just to name a few. In any verbal and nonverbal communication, there can be misunderstandings and miscues, so professionals have to make sure they communicate as clearly as possible, and they have to look out for barriers in their communication and the communication of others. Other barriers could include individuals who do not communicate effectively, or resist effective communication within the criminal justice system.

To overcome these barriers, professionals have many tools at their disposal. Translators and native speakers are available to ensure non-English speaking subjects are clearly and fairly interviewed and understood. Editing, overview, and interpretation are available for written reports and other writings. Using clear, effective language keeps the written word from being misunderstood, and going over reports for errors and omissions helps clear up missing facts and evidence. For individuals who do not communicate effectively, training stressing the importance of good, clear communication might be effective.

Effective communication is extremely important in the field of criminal justice, because just about every aspect of the career is deeply rooted in good communication. Law enforcement officers interact with the public, other officers, and the court system on a daily basis. They have to be prepared to interview a suspect or a witness, write reports, give testimony, and communicate with other officers and their superiors. In the prison system, officers have to interact with inmates, other officers, and their administrative staff. They have to communicate issues, write reports, and interact publicly. In the judicial system, judges, and lawyers have to interview suspects and witnesses, write complicated judgments, orally interview, write cases, and follow up reports. Every aspect of the criminal justice system involves often complex communication, both verbal and nonverbal, so it is essential to have effective communication in all branches of the criminal justice system.

There are any number of instances where ineffective communication could lead to a threat to public safety. For example, a police officer interviews a witness, and the witness describes a suspect as a white male, about 6-foot 2, with a scar on his left arm and a tattoo of an eagle on his right arm. He is wearing dark jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, and carrying a knife. When the officer writes down the description in his report, he neglects to mention the tattoo, or the knife. Now, the suspect is misidentified, and may not be apprehended, leading to additional criminal activity and more victims, and this could erode public safety in a particular neighborhood or area.