3 Things That Will Benefit Law Enforcement Officers

3 Things That Will Benefit Law Enforcement Officers

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There is no doubt that law enforcement officers have specific needs that differ from those of most other people. A variety of products and services exist to fulfill those needs, and that is what we will be discussing today. Here are three services that are specifically geared for the law enforcement professional and which can be of great benefit.

1. A Stress Management Program

Being a police officer is undoubtedly a stressful job. After all, these are the people that you call when the situation is completely out of hand. As a result, they have to deal with situations that most people would never even imagine. When you combine this factor with the open contempt that many people have for police officers, you have a recipe for a lot of stress.

At this point, many would recommend the services of trained psychologists. However, it isn't necessarily that simple. These people probably can't relate to the problems faced by law enforcement personnel, and it's not acceptable for a police officer to do the kind of drugs they often prescribe. In the end, training and peer support are the two best tools to keep everyone on an even keel.

2. Law Enforcement Transcription Services

There are many instances in which law enforcement officers need to make a video or audio recordings. These include witness statements, interviews, wiretaps, 911 calls, and anything else that might be relevant in court. Transcriptions are a must for a courtroom environment, as it is inconvenient to use a huge amount of mass media when there is a full docket to process. Things need to be quick and expedient, and good transcription makes that possible.

Of course, you can't hire just anyone to do that kind of job. There are laws that mandate how law enforcement-related data can be handled. In most cases, these regulations are intended to provide information security. There is a whole department of the FBI called the CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) that oversees this. You want to make sure that your vendor is certified with them and compliant with all relevant regulations that are required of a law enforcement transcriber.

For those law enforcement officers who do a lot of surveillance, this kind of thing is of paramount importance. The credibility of an entire case can often rest on a recording, and the transcript is all that most people will see of that recording. Whether it's a recorded call from the jailhouse to an accomplice or a recording from a hidden microphone, clarity and quality are essential.

3. Third-Party DNA Testing Services

As with recordings, DNA tests are often used in court to establish guilt or innocence. Because there can be a lot riding on these things, it is important to make sure that they are accurate. While many police departments have the in-house resources to take care of this sort of thing, it might be a good idea to outsource at least some of those tests.

There have been quite a few instances in which DNA tests were done incorrectly, resulting in a wrongful conviction or a wrongful exoneration. If those tests are done by the police department, allegations of bias can taint the proceedings. As such, it is very good to have a trusted third-party testing company that can add an extra layer of assurance for both you and the accused.

Of course, this is only a partial list of the law-enforcement-related services that are available. A lot of private companies choose to outsource certain services, and public servants can also do this to a certain extent. We hope that this article has given you some good ideas and that you will come back to see us again.