Importance of Communication
Communication is one of the crucial components in every successful organization. Effective communication entails proper flow of information from one person to another in the right time and the right context. Law enforcement organization includes group associations starting from local neighborhood watch groups up to the international groups. These organizations are established to make, amend, or even administer the law in different geographical jurisdiction thus enhancing peace and order in the society. These organizations have a common goal of managing crisis as well as making strategic decision to curb wrong doers. To enhance smooth operation, communication between these groups and citizens becomes a fundamental aspect, which cannot be overlooked. The following is of great importance, which accrues from effective communication in law enforcement organizations.
First, it enhances positive relationships and trust among the parties. Most citizens have negative attitudes towards law enforcement organizations like courts and police (Manuel 20). Most of them are perceived as corrupt, brutal in handling people, and this makes people remain closed with crucial information. For instance, if a witness has trust to the officer, one can befriend another and open up crucial information, which can be used for further investigations. Communication is not just talking or listening, but it entails other components like gestures, facial expression as well as proper handling of people (Kania et al. 11). Law enforcement agencies need to be trained on how to handle people depending on circumstance.
Proper communication also helps to understand an individual’s problem, nature, and moods. In law enforcement agency, parties are given a chance to express their problem freely without disruption. Due to language barriers, it has become mandatory for this organization to be equipped with interpreters. This ensures that parties can express their problem adequately thus allowing the judges to evaluate the validity of their statements. Also, communication tone allows officers to apply different styles of power to different people when handling a case. When handling dispatchers, they need to communicate clearly and right to the point (Kania et al. 31). In case the officers are communicating with suspects, they use authoritative communication and directions. When tackling victims, verbal communication tone needs to be compassionate and soft-spoken.
Due to increased cases of crimes and injustice, communication can help law enforcing organization to learn from each other thus building strong work ethics. Most scenarios occur in courts whereby a judge bases one’s ruling from previous judge decision. New officers, therefore, can learn how things are done from the past judgments and how they argue before they make a conclusion to the certain case at hand. Also, communication will help to evaluate and substantiate the matter at hand thus allowing parties to know the facts concerning certain issues.
Grapevine communication, which entails passing of information within organizations helps to create a pyramid of the network. For instance, police officers are usually connected in every place by use of the certain network (Roberg 23).This helps to fill information gaps, especially during the time of emergency or crises. Information gaps are barriers, which are created as a result of the poor network, and thus good communication helps to overcome this challenge. Most sensitive information cannot be leaked to the public, and therefore these networks help to pass information to only law enforcing organization for necessary actions.
Communication has been used for investigating and arresting of dangerous people. In the case of scenarios with limited information, police use criteria of separating the suspects from each other. They communicate to the suspects in isolation places and offer different choices for them. This communication helps the officers to come up with solutions concerning the matter at hand (Manuel 31).
Communication also entails documentation and presentation of matters in a skillful manner. This serves as motivation factor as well as a source of information. Most people have knowledge in law, but they lack the right information to prove the facts. Documentation as in verbal communication, therefore, acts as a source of knowledge for law enforcement agencies. It can also be used as the source of reference for future information. Communications help young stars to have the right information, which serves them as a source of internal motivation within the organization. How well an organization presents itself to the public creates an impression, which they later use to evaluate the services.
Organizational communication assists in realization of goal and promotion of unity among members. Strong bonds are created by members of the organization, especially when there is effective communication. People always respect and acknowledge the work of their superior thus encouraging professionalism (Kania et al. 46). When peers work within an environment of respect, communication is easily done thus encouraging them to work for the common interest of realizing organizational goals.
In conclusion, communication is a great tool, which all organizations should emphasize. Effective communication will enhance smooth flow of information thus encouraging easy decision-making process. Law enforcement organizations are obliged to have effective communicating skills to facilitate the cases and issues of citizens.
Works Cited
Kania, Richard R.E., and Richards P. Davis. Managing Criminal Justice Organizations: An Introduction to Theory and Practice. London: Routledge, 2011.
Roberg, Roy R., Jack L. Kuykendall, and Kenneth Novak. Police Management. Los Angeles, CA: Roxbury Publishing Company, 2002.
Stojkovic, Stan, David Kalinich, and John Klofas. Criminal Justice Organizations: Administration and Management. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning, 2012.