Chapter 4

Question 1

What percentage of fatal police shootings had white victims and black victims?

Answer 1

50% of fatal police shootings had white victims and 26% were black. This is disproportionate considering the lower percentage of black citizens in the US.

Question 2

How much more likely are Black and Hispanic individuals to experience nonlethal force in police interactions?

Answer 2

They are more than 50% more likely to experience nonlethal force in interactions with police.

Question 3

What did Lewis Terman suggest about police officers’ IQs?

Answer 3

He suggested that no one with an IQ below 80 should be a police officer, but later found many officers had below-average scores.

Question 4

What does psychological screening for police officers assess?

Answer 4

It assesses levels of psychopathology that might interfere with their ability to perform duties, rather than specific skills directly related to police work.

Question 5

What psychological characteristics are typically sought in police officers?

Answer 5

Characteristics include incorruptibility, high moral character, being well-adjusted, people-oriented, emotionally stable, dedicated, disciplined, and logical.

Question 6

How many steps are involved in the selection of police candidates?

Answer 6

There are up to 10 steps, including application/prescreening, entrance exams, physical fitness, background checks, psychological testing, and medical exams.

Question 7

What is the role of standardized interviews in police selection?

Answer 7

Standardized interviews increase reliability by ensuring content is consistent across all candidates.

Question 8

What are situational tests used for in police selection?

Answer 8

They incorporate tasks similar to actual police work and predict performance, but they can be time-consuming and costly.

Question 9

Why are psychological tests important in police screening?

Answer 9

They are reliable, can be objectively scored, and help assess cognitive ability and personality traits, crucial for police performance.

Question 10

What is the purpose of a fitness-for-duty evaluation?

Answer 10

It assesses whether an officer can continue performing their duties after experiencing stress.

Question 11

How long does police training typically last?

Answer 11

Police training typically lasts 24 weeks with 40-hour weeks, though smaller jurisdictions may average 14-16 weeks.

Question 12

What is the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE)?

Answer 12

It is a collaboration between civil rights leaders and law enforcement to improve policing practices.

Question 13

What challenges have resulted from deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill?

Answer 13

It has not met its goals due to difficulty in treating severe mental illness and insufficient funding for alternative community-based care.

Question 14

What is the Memphis Model for Crisis Intervention?

Answer 14

It is designed to increase officer and public safety while redirecting individuals with mental illness from the judicial system to the mental health system.

Question 15

Why are police encounters with mentally ill citizens common?

Answer 15

Police often have first contact with mentally ill individuals, especially during crises like potential suicide or self-harm.

Question 16

Why are domestic disturbances one of the most dangerous activities for police?

Answer 16

They often involve volatile situations with high risk of injury, and criminal complaints are filed in less than half of cases.

Question 17

What is the best response to domestic violence cases?

Answer 17

The best outcome comes from immediately arresting the suspected batterer, reducing subsequent offending by almost 50%.

Question 18

What are the four types of hostage situations?

Answer 18

1) Mental disorder or family problems, 2) Trapped offender, 3) Prison takeovers, 4) Terrorism for social/political aims.

Question 19

How do hostage negotiators work?

Answer 19

They aim to isolate hostage-takers from outside communication, reduce fear and tension, and maintain contact to reach a peaceful resolution.

Question 20

What is the ‘life in a fishbowl’ phenomenon for police officers?

Answer 20

It refers to the high stress police officers face due to constant public scrutiny.

Question 21

What are the main factors of burnout for police officers?

Answer 21

Exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy.

Question 22

What strategies can reduce burnout in police officers?

Answer 22

Team policing and counseling, along with stress management programs, can help reduce burnout.

Question 23

What does the 4th, 8th, and 14th amendment protect?

Answer 23

The 4th amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, the 8th against cruel and unusual punishment, and the 14th guarantees due process.

Question 24

What is racial profiling?

Answer 24

It is a police technique that has caused widespread concern due to its discriminatory nature.

Question 25

What are the six basic features of community policing?

Answer 25

1) Neighborhood orientation, 2) Increased visibility, 3) Structured response to calls, 4) Proactive crime prevention, 5) Brokering community resources, 6) Crime analysis.

Question 26

How does community policing affect police-community relations?

Answer 26

It has a favorable impact but faces challenges like insufficient funding and pressure to adopt a tougher approach during rising crime.

Question 27

What is the procedural justice perspective in community policing?

Answer 27

It emphasizes acting on legitimate authority and promoting lawful behavior by officers acting in a fair and transparent manner.

Question 28

How does community policing help in crime reduction?

Answer 28

By improving relations and focusing on proactive crime prevention and community engagement, it can contribute to crime reduction.

Question 29

What are the three primary duties of police officers?

Answer 29

Enforcing the law, maintaining order, and providing services.

Question 30

What does enforcing the law typically involve for police officers?

Answer 30

Investigating complaints, arresting suspects, and attempting to prevent crime. Although it's considered the most important, it only accounts for about 10% of police activity.

Question 31

What does maintaining order entail for police officers?

Answer 31

Intervening in family and neighborhood disputes, keeping traffic moving, reducing noise levels, and minimizing disturbances. About 1/3 of police requests involve these activities.

Question 32

What kinds of services do police officers provide?

Answer 32

Assisting in medical and psychological emergencies, finding missing persons, helping stranded motorists, and escorting funerals.

Question 33

What are the arguments for and against police providing social services?

Answer 33

No: Resources should focus on enforcing laws and restraining order. Yes: Helps people associate police with positive actions and community support.

Question 34

What is the 'life in a fishbowl' problem in policing?

Answer 34

Police officers' actions are constantly scrutinized by the public, especially with the increased use of body cameras, smartphones, and social media.

Question 35

What are some health and stress-related issues police officers face?

Answer 35

Increased alcohol abuse, anxiety, higher rates of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, migraines, insomnia, and physical injuries (back, foot problems).

Question 36

What are common sources of stress for police officers?

Answer 36

Physical and psychological threats, using force, high-speed chases, judicial system inefficiencies, negative press, organizational issues, and lack of support.

Question 37

What mental health training do police officers receive in crisis intervention?

Answer 37

Officers often interact with mentally ill citizens, with varying levels of training. Specialized mental health training leads to fewer arrests and better crisis intervention outcomes.

Question 38

What are jail diversion programs for people with mental illness?

Answer 38

Programs that connect individuals with mental illness to social services instead of incarcerating them. Research shows better outcomes for offenders and the community.

Question 39

What are the risks involved in responding to domestic disturbances?

Answer 39

Family disturbances are one of the most dangerous tasks for police. 61% of violent offenses involve family members or others known to the victim.

Question 40

What are the different types of family violence?

Answer 40

Situational Couple Violence: Conflict gets out of hand. Intimate Terrorism: One partner uses violence to control the other. Violent Resistance: Partner fights back against intimate terrorism.

Question 41

What are some common myths about family violence?

Answer 41

Myth 1: Only men perpetrate family violence (false; both genders engage). Myth 2: Family violence only occurs in mentally ill or poor families (false). Myth 3: Battered women enjoy being hit (false). Myth 4: Drug and alcohol abuse are the real causes (false).

Question 42

What are some correlates of intimate partner violence (IPV)?

Answer 42

Witnessing violence as a child, child abuse history, aggression in media, trait anger, poor communication skills, traditional gender roles, and stress.

Question 43

What factors can inhibit IPV?

Answer 43

Gender equality, conscientiousness, self-control, problem-solving skills, good communication, sobriety, and commitment to relationships.

Question 44

What are recurring areas of concern in police-community relations?

Answer 44

Interrogation practices and false confessions, racial profiling and traffic stops, excessive force and police brutality.

Question 45

What is racial profiling?

Answer 45

The practice of disproportionately stopping minority citizens during traffic or pedestrian stops, leading to concerns about equal protection under the law.

Question 46

How has police brutality been highlighted in recent events?

Answer 46

The Black Lives Matter movement, especially after high-profile incidents like the George Floyd case, which was widely viewed on social media.

Question 47

What is community-based policing?

Answer 47

A proactive, problem-solving approach where police collaborate with local citizens to combat crime, promote safety, and improve neighborhood quality.

Question 48

What are the six features of Chicago's community policing model?

Answer 48

Neighborhood orientation (same officer on the same beats), increased geographic responsibility, structured response to calls for service, proactive, problem-oriented approach, brokering community resources for crime prevention, crime problem analysis.

Question 49

As of 2010, it was estimated that what percentage of violent offenses in the United States were perpetrated by persons related to or known by the victim?

Answer 49

60 percent

Question 50

Butler, Leitenberg, and Fuselier (1993) have found that including a psychologist in a hostage negotiation team resulted in which of these?

Answer 50

More peaceful surrenders by the hostage takers

Question 51

What are two types of tests included in police selection batteries?

Answer 51

Personality and cognitive

Question 52

Which of the following is an example of a personality test?

Answer 52

MMPI

Question 53

Successful hostage negotiation results from which of the following actions?

Answer 53

Understanding the situation dynamics to end the incident with minimum violence

Question 54

Which of the following situations is not identified as a type of hostage situation?

Answer 54

The hostage taker is high on drugs.

Question 55

Which of the following is true of mentally ill persons?

Answer 55

Both A and C

Question 56

Officer Hadley believes in developing friendly relationships with individual residents in a community, identifying the “hot spots” for crime, and developing partnerships with community organizations for fighting crime, so she spends a lot of time involved in her community while in uniform. This is an example of which of the following?

Answer 56

community policing

Question 57

Which of the following tests consists of 26 scales that tap past and present behaviors presumed to have special relevance for detecting unsuitable law enforcement officers?

Answer 57

Inwald Personality Inventory

Question 58

Two strategies for decreasing police burnout are which of the following?

Answer 58

Team policing and counseling

Question 59

Which of the following is a reason for Crisis Intervention Training?

Answer 59

Police are often asked to diffuse volatile situations.

Question 60

Which of the following is not one of the psychological qualities desirable for police officers?

Answer 60

Authoritative

Question 61

Guadalupe has been in an abusive relationship for 12 years. Her husband frequently hits her, often after little or no provocation. Guadalupe has been enduring this violence for so long that she has come to believe that she probably deserves the beatings. Her best friend has seen the bruises and has told her to leave her husband, but Guadalupe believes that leaving would be futile. Guadalupe could be said to be experiencing which of these?

Answer 61

Learned helplessness

Question 62

Officer Ramirez and Officer Tomlin spend time on their shift playing basketball with kids in the neighborhood. This is an example of which of the following?

Answer 62

Community relations

Question 63

The Inwald Personality Inventory was designed specifically to accomplish which of the follow?

Answer 63

Identify psychologically unsuitable law enforcement candidates