Search

Police officers are typically the first responders when victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) report abuse. Therefore, police officers' attitudes toward IPV and victim blaming are crucial. This study aimed to observe how police officers' sexist attitudes affect their perspectives on IPV and their victim-blaming attitudes, depending on the gender role exhibited by the victim. The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory was used to classify 139 Thai male police officers into four groups of sexism: hostile sexist, benevolent sexist, ambivalent sexist, and nonsexist. Then, the participants were randomly assigned to watch a simulation video, in which a victim of IPV filed a report after being abused by her husband. There were two versions of the video, one in which the victim played a traditional gender role and the other a nontraditional role. Multivariate analysis of variance was employed for data analysis. The results demonstrated statistically significant effects of ambivalent sexism and victim's gender role on attitudes toward IPV and victim blaming. This study contributes to the growing body of research on police officers' performances in the context of IPV in Thailand and contributes to existing scholarship. It provides Thai police precincts with information that can equip them to develop new sensitivity training programs and can help legislators improve the effectiveness of victim protection acts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although child sexual abuse has been a prominent topic for more than four decades, its multidimensional causal factors remain inconclusive. The purpose of the study was to understand triggering factors leading to committing child sexual abuse. The study employed a quantitative survey design. We collected data from 21 perpetrators and 203 police officers. Delayed marriage, cultural norms and excessive alcohol consumption were triggers to committing child sexual abuse. Perpetrators knew their acts would have moral and punitive consequences. To stop child sexual abuse, community participation, strengthening community policing and automation of crime reporting were suggested actions. The study suggests that more comprehensive research should be conducted in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opioid epidemic has strained the US criminal justice system. Law enforcement frequently encounters persons with substance use disorder (SUD). Law enforcement–led, pre-arrest diversion programs linking individuals with SUD to addiction treatment instead of arrest and prosecution has the potential to reduce crime, overdoses, and other community harms. We implemented a pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment program—the Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI)—from September 2017 to August 2020, and describe the key components of MARI's effective implementation. Adults who committed an eligible, drug use–related crime were offered a 6-month MARI participation with referral to treatment in lieu of arrest; criminal charges for that crime were "voided" upon the successful MARI completion. Formative evaluation, with stakeholder feedback and team meeting minutes, assessed key factors influencing implementation. Process evaluation consisted of tracking participant referrals, enrollment, and engagement. Police officers, MARI participants, and treatment center staff members were surveyed about program experiences and attitudes. The study used descriptive statistics to describe quantitative survey responses; thematic qualitative analysis identified major themes in qualitative responses. Of 263 participants, 160 initiated program engagement, with 100 successfully completing MARI. Interim evaluations and community partner feedback informed program protocol adjustments to increase participant enrollment, retention and diversity, streamline the referral processes, and transition to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rigorous evaluation and community partner feedback are essential components of effective implementation and sustainability of a law enforcement–led pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment program, which has the potential to both reduce crime and overdose, and change the lives of people with SUD. [Display omitted] • A law enforcement-led, pre-arrest program linked adults to addiction treatment. • Offering treatment instead of arrest could be life-changing for those with addiction. • Involvement of diverse community partners was critical to the program's success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Despite improvements in health education and treatment, arterial hypertension remains a major health problem of increasing epidemiological importance. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine the impact of regular yoga breathing exercises on blood pressure, work-related stress, and the prevalence of arterial hypertension in young police academy trainees with no existing comorbidities. Design: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Subjects: The study included 120 healthy trainees aged between 18 and 39 years who practiced weekly yoga exercises with an emphasis on breathing (prāṇāyāma) over an observation period of 6 months. Results: These regular exercises lowered the blood pressure of the participants by 1.34 mmHg (right arm, p = 0.007), increased their regenerative capacity (Recovery Experience Questionnaire [REQ] scale +2.77, p < 0.001) and resilience (Resilience Scale [RS] +4.6, p = 0.001), and concomitantly reduced the level of perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale [PSS] -0.9, p < 0.001). In contrast, blood pressure in the control group had slightly increased over the study period by 0.1 mmHg (right arm, p < 0.001) and 1.0 mmHg (left arm, p = 0.03), and subjective scores had significantly worsened (REQ scale -3.4, p < 0.001; RS -2.29, p = 0.001; PSS +0.88, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The results point to a significant correlation between blood pressure and both regenerative capacity and stress level. Thus, the study confirms the hypothesis that yoga exercises reduce perceived stress and exert positive effects on blood pressure. Clinical Trial Registration Number: DRKS00025921. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Law enforcement is a stressful occupation with both work-related and social-related stressors. Too much stress can negatively affect behaviours, mental states, and job performance. Centralized police organizations limit officers' individual autonomy, likely increasing stress. This study examined differences in occupational stress in two different European countries and one Middle East country. Participants were 351 male police officers from Serbia (n  = 130, age 36 ± 8 years), Russia (n  = 121, age 22 ± 4 years), and Lebanon (n  = 100, age 36 ± 6 years) who completed the 20-item Operational Police Stress Questionnaire in their own language. Items were averaged and interpreted as low (≤2.0), stress (2.1–3.4), and high stress (≥3.5). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) analyses using age as the covariate with Bonferroni post hoc analyses were used. A principal component analysis (PCA) was used to determine stress structure per country. Significant differences were found with lower occupational stress in Russian (P  < 0.001) and Lebanon (P  = 0.003) than Serbian officers. PCA factor patterns differed by country, with six found for Russian and Lebanese and three for Serbian officers. More work-related stressors were rated higher for the younger Russian officers, while more social-related stressors were rated higher for the older Serbian officers. Results suggest that it is vital to consider officers' stress sources and overall stress levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through interviews with police officers (n = 15), the present study examined police perspectives toward their response to intimate partner violence (IPV). Qualitative analyses indicated several challenges police officers face in responding to IPV, including barriers at the systemic, organizational, and individual levels. Police officers in the current study also identified recommendations toward overcoming barriers. Overall, results continue to underscore a lack of police consistency toward addressing IPV, including inconsistent approaches to assessing and managing risk posed to families. Conversely, qualitative results point to several recommendations that heavily involve collaboration between community and justice partners. Implications for future research and practice include further examination of the identified recommendations, a continued focus on developing training that addresses the risk posed to high-risk families, and further development of collaborative approaches toward the prevention and intervention of IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality tests are frequently administered during the process of hiring police officers. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is one of the most widely used instruments in the selection of candidates. Pre-employment MMPI-2 scores have also been used to predict police misconduct and early termination of police officers. This study looked at the predictive ability of the immaturity index for the early termination of officers. The immaturity index is a composition of three scales from the MMPI-2 that includes the Lie scale, Hypomania, and Psychopathic Deviate. Results showed the immaturity index as a significant predictor of officers being terminated for cause and no longer being employed by the department within one year of hire. This data supports the utility of the index for predicting potentially problematic behavior in police officer recruits. In addition, because the MMPI-2 is a common assessment given during the onboarding psychiatric evaluation of police officers, potential candidates for hire with elevated immaturity index scores may be reconsidered or warrant further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research has shown that the quality of the relationship between teacher and child is associated with more positive perceptions of school authorities. There has been relatively less attention to the processes that connect attitudes towards different sources of authority, such as between teachers and police. The current study uses a counterfactual approach to estimate the direct and indirect effects of teacher–child relationships on children's later perceptions of police legitimacy. Using data from a longitudinal study of youth in Zurich, Switzerland, this study applies non-bipartite propensity score matching to identify matched pairs (n = 232 pairs, 55% male) of children with better versus worse relationships with their teacher at age 11 following a teacher change. Matched pairs were then compared on potential mediators (moral norms about deviant behavior and low self-control) at age 13 and perceptions of police legitimacy at age 15. The results demonstrate the importance of the quality of the relationships between students and teachers in shaping young people's interpersonal characteristics as well as perceptions of the world around them. Namely, if young people feel that they are being treated fairly by their teachers, they are more likely to distinguish behaviors that are right or wrong (moral norms) and control their actions (self-control). Moreover, as a result they are also more likely to perceive authorities such as police as legitimate agents that facilitate societal order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During disasters, the behaviour of pet owners and of pets themselves may compromise the ability of emergency responders to perform their duties safely. Furthermore, pet loss can have deleterious effects on personal and community recovery. To explore these issues and their implications for health promotion and disaster management practice, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 emergency responders in Australia, where disaster policy embraces shared responsibility yet does not acknowledge pets. We found that responders commit to being responsible for protecting human lives, especially members of their teams. Frontline emergency responders did not regard pets as their responsibility, yet decisions made with tragic consequences for pets exacted an emotional toll. Emergency managers consider community education as a pivotal strategy to support building people's capacity to reduce their own risk in disasters. While important, we question whether this is sufficient given that human life is lived in more-than-human contexts. Reformulating the parameters of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion as 'One Health Promotion' may help to account for the intermeshed lives of people and pets, while acknowledging human priority in public policy and programming. To acknowledge the influence of people's pets in disaster responses and recovery, we recommend five overlapping spheres of action: (i) integrate pets into disaster management practice and policy; (ii) create pet-friendly environments and related policies; (iii) engage community action in disaster management planning; (iv) develop personal skills by engaging owners in capacity building and (v) reorient health and emergency services toward a more-than-human approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread empirical support for Procedural Justice Theory, understanding the role of police psychology in shaping encounters with 'citizens' is relatively opaque. This article seeks to address this gap in the literature by exploring how officers talk about themselves and their colleagues and deploy social categories to understand their interactions with 'the public'. The qualitative thematic analysis draws upon 22 semi-structured interviews conducted with officers in various roles and teams within a large metropolitan police force in England. Our thematic analysis demonstrates the centrality of procedural fairness in officers' talk (in terms of internal relations with colleagues and external relations with 'the public'). Interviewees described complex internalised theories of social relations, differentially positioning themselves in relation to other colleagues and multiple 'publics' often depicted along socioeconomic and geographical lines. Officers described their interactions with 'the public' in sequential and historical terms with complex and changing (often intergroup) power dynamics. Implications of the analysis for understanding the role of social identity processes among police officers and how this underlying conceptualisation might shape police–'citizen' encounters are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we explore the effects of in-person versus remote administration and in-person versus remote proctoring on scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in the context of police candidate preemployment evaluations. To this end, we compare data gathered from candidates who completed the test under standard, in-person conditions with data from candidates who completed the test remotely with the Q-global Remote On-Screen Assessment (ROSA) system, using either in-person or remote proctoring. We find that the standard group (n = 3,311), remote administration/in-person proctoring group (ROSA-IPP; n = 108), and remote administration/remote proctoring group (ROSA-RP; n = 90) all produce very similar distributions of scores, with group differences in means and standard deviations no greater than two T-score points per scale. Examination of the correlations between MMPI-2-RF externalizing scale scores and a set of relevant extra-test criteria for the ROSA-IPP and ROSA-RP groups reveals little difference between groups and suggests patterns of convergent and discriminant validity similar to those observed in studies of the MMPI-2-RF under standard administration conditions. Taken together, these findings provide evidence that the MMPI-2-RF's psychometric properties in police candidate preemployment evaluations are equivalent regardless of whether the test is administered in-person or remotely and whether proctoring is conducted in-person or remotely. Public Significance Statement: This study indicates that when the MMPI-2-RF is used to examine the psychological functioning of police candidates, it produces similar results regardless of whether it is administered remotely (i.e., over the internet) or in-person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The profession of a police personnel is extremely stressful. Coping strategies and social support are known to be robust buffers of stress Objective: To study Stress, Coping Strategies and Social Support as Predictors of Mental Health of Police Personnel of Uttar Pradesh, North India. Method: This was a cross-sectional study comprising of 300 male police personnel. Assessment was done using Occupational Stress Questionnaire, Brief COPE Scale and Mental Health Inventory. Multiple Regression Analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Ambiguity stress, the belonging and appraisal support are found to be the strongest predictor of mental health of constables. Stress in the area of organizational structure, the appraisal support and maladaptive coping strategies are essential predictors of mental health of inspectors. Beside this, social support, belonging support, appraisal support and active coping are significant predictor of mental health of Officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intended to examine rape myth acceptance (RMA) among police officers and its relationship with sociodemographic data, length of service, specific training in the field, and professional experience with victims of rape. To this end, we applied the Sexual Violence Beliefs Scale (ECVS) and controlled for sociodemographic data, as well as professional experience and specific training in the field, through a self-report questionnaire. The sample was composed of 400 police officers from a city in the north of Portugal, aged between 29 and 54 years, and most were men (94.3%). We found that tolerance to overall sexual violence exhibits positive correlations with age and length of service, as well as negative correlations with education levels. Differences were also found regarding gender, with men exhibiting greater tolerance/acceptance of overall sexual violence. It was also found that officers who exhibit higher tolerance/acceptance for sexual violence, overall, are those who do not consider it relevant to receive specific training in the field of sexual violence to perform their duties, who report not having any professional experience with cases of sexual violence and also do not consider it necessary to have specific abilities for these types of cases. Implications for decision-making in legal proceedings are discussed, stressing the need for specific specialization in intervention with victims of sexual assault, with a strong practical component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on regulatory focus theory, we investigate how public employees' regulatory orientations (promotion and prevention focus) at work affect public service motivation (PSM) and change‐oriented and maintenance‐oriented organizational citizenship behavior (change‐OCB; maintenance‐OCB). The results, based on a three‐wave study of 1,397 French police officers, empirically support expectations that the two regulatory orientations may activate PSM differently and are positively associated with change‐OCB and maintenance‐OCB. These findings underline the role of regulatory orientations as key psychological sources of PSM and OCB, extending existing public administration knowledge. This article suggests that police organizations could benefit from integrating regulatory focus insights into their practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interactions with police are vitally important to victims' ability to process their trauma. This study focused on the experiences of victims who reported a rape to police in Sweden. Thirteen women participated in interviews; the material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings include lack of information and the role of luck in finding an understanding officer; some found comfort, and some felt violated once again. Long processing times bound participants to their trauma. Findings highlight the need for improved knowledge of trauma among police, victims' needs for information and rights to support, and structural barriers that need to be addressed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Existing research on the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and cigarette smoking primarily involves low-risk, physical IVP-focused studies on community women. As a result, the risks associated with cigarette smoking in women victims of severe IPV have not been fully explored. This study examined the association between exposure to different forms of childhood maltreatment, exposure to physical, psychological, and sexual IPV, and current psychological distress symptoms with cigarette smoking in a high-risk sample of women victims of police-reported severe IPV. Participants included 162 women victims of police-reported severe IPV recruited in shelters for domestic violence and Child Protective Services in Portugal. Participants provided self-reports on childhood maltreatment physical, psychological, and sexual violence), physical, psychological, and sexual IPV, psychological distress symptoms (anxiety, depressive, somatic, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms), and daily cigarette consumption. Results revealed significant associations between daily cigarette consumption and exposure to IPV, physical abuse during childhood, psychological IPV, and anxiety symptoms in women experiencing police-reported severe IPV. Childhood maltreatment may increase vulnerability for emotion dysregulation, promoting addictive behaviors to regulate distress. Smoking can be an unhealthy regulating strategy to reduce the distress related to chronic exposure to psychological IPV. Future effective health promotion interventions in women facing severe forms of IPV may target emotional regulation and incorporate a trauma-focused approach.

During the COVID‐19 pandemic, first responders and health care workers faced elevated virus‐related risks through prolonged contacts with the public. Research suggests that these workers already experienced lower levels of psychological well‐being linked to occupational risks. Thus, the pandemic's impact might have particularly affected mental health in these groups. This paper analysed data from a large‐scale Welsh population study (N = 12,989) from June to July 2020. Levels of psychological distress were compared across various occupations, including police, fire and rescue, and NHS health care workers. Resilience was also indexed, and its role considered as a protective factor for psychological distress. Surprisingly, health care workers reported lower distress levels than the general population. Further, fire and rescue and police groups had lower distress than most groups and significantly higher resilience. Within police officers, higher resilience levels were protective for distress. Fire and rescue workers were half as likely as others to report distress, even accounting for demographic factors and resilience. The findings offer an optimistic view of psychological resilience in these critical occupations. They illustrate potential benefits to one's mental health of playing a crucial societal role during crises and reiterate the importance of enhancing resilience within groups who encounter high‐risk situations daily. Practitioner points: Our findings provide evidence that health care workers and first responders showed lower levels of psychological distress than the general population during the first period of lockdown due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. This may indicate that playing a critical role in society during an episode of crisis, and acting to help others, may be protective of one's own mental health.The research also provides an optimistic view of the psychological resilience of critical first responders and health care workers during a period early on in the COVID‐19 pandemic (June–July 2020). This highlights the benefits of fostering resilience in those working within high‐risk first responder and health care occupations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has placed a significant amount of stress on local and state law enforcement departments. In addition to responding to crimes, police officers now have additional responsibilities that include enforcing non-essential business closures, dispersing social gatherings, and maintaining order at testing sites and local hospitals, all while trying to preserve their own health. Spousal support serves a critical role in helping officers cope with occupational stressors. However, when both officer and spouse are being affected by the same traumatic event, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, this may bring additional challenges and opportunities to law enforcement couples and their mechanisms of coping. Little has been written on the effects of simultaneous shared trauma on the couple relationship. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to start a dialogue on these challenges and opportunities to serve as considerations for clinicians working with police officers and/or their spouses during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Public safety personnel (PSP) are at risk of developing posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI) due to exposure to traumatic experiences and accidents. Rehabilitation programs are available, but their success varies. We studied: (1) characteristics of PSP undergoing PTSI rehabilitation in comparison to non-PSP workers; and (2) predictive value of various factors for return to work. Methods A population-based cohort study was conducted using data on injured workers undergoing PTSI rehabilitation. Of the 488 workers included, 131 were PSP. Outcome measures were: (1) return to pre-accident work at rehabilitation discharge; (2) days receiving wage replacement benefits in the year following rehabilitation. Results PSP were mainly employed (90.8%), male (59.5%), paramedics/ambulance workers (58.0%); a minority (43.5%) returned to pre-accident work after rehabilitation. Compared to non-PSP workers, PSP were more likely to initially be diagnosed with psychological injuries (94.7% versus 59.4%, p < 0.001) rather than musculoskeletal injuries. Return to pre-accident work was predicted by shorter injury duration, having a primary mental health diagnosis, working at time of admission, and not having symptoms requiring treatment in a complex rehabilitation program. PSPs were slower to experience full recovery in the year after rehabilitation. Factors predicting fewer benefit days included not having a secondary psychological injury, being employed, and working at time of admission. Conclusions Most PSP did not return to work in full after PTSI rehabilitation. Outcomes are likely to improve by starting treatment earlier and maintaining connections with the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various investigative techniques and methods available to investigators following the commission of a crime can have a great impact on the ability of police forces to adequately respond to such a crime. Based on a sample of sexual homicide crime series (i.e., all sex worker victims, mixed victims, all non-sex worker victims), key differences in the types of offenders who commit different types of homicide series were identified. Nowadays, the realities of investigative work have profoundly changed: investigators are confronted with emerging phenomena and increasingly sophisticated crimes that present multiple (and new) challenges (e.g., economic crime, cybercrime, dark web, terrorism, online sexual exploitation). [Extracted from the article]

Objective: This study is a secondary analysis of data collected in an earlier clinical trial of mindfulness-based resilience training (MBRT) (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number 02521454), where the MBRT condition demonstrated a significant reduction in self-reported burnout and trend-level reductions in alcohol use in law enforcement officers (LEOs). Given that MBRT is not designed to be a substance use intervention and does not contain explicit substance-related content, this study sought to clarify these findings by exploring whether improved burnout mediates reduced alcohol use. Method: Participants (n = 61) were sworn LEOs (89% male, 85% White, 8% Hispanic/Latinx) recruited from departments in a large urban metro area of the northwestern United States, and were randomized to either MBRT (n = 31) or no intervention control group (n = 30) during the trial. Results: MBRT group assignment predicted reduced burnout (b = 0.43, standard error [SE] = 0.14, p = 0.004), which subsequently predicted reduced alcohol use (b = 1.69, SE = 0.81, p = 0.045). Results suggest that reduced alcohol use was indirectly related to a reduction in burnout post-MBRT. Conclusion: Given that MBRT does not explicitly address substance use, these findings were interpreted to suggest that officers in the training acquired a new set of coping skills to deal with the operational and organizational stressors of police work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people from migrant and ethnic minority backgrounds are recognised as emerging priority populations for reducing alcohol and other drug (AOD)‐related harms in Australia. Limited research has investigated how service providers address AOD challenges in migrant communities. In this qualitative study, we interviewed 15 service providers from AOD, migrant support, community and other health services in a diverse region of Melbourne. Interviews explored the challenges that service providers faced and the strategies they implemented to engage with young migrants in relation to AOD use. Thematic analysis was used to generate four themes: stigma as a barrier to service delivery, intergenerational differences between young people and parents, the need for outreach and establishing trust and understanding over time. Service providers believed that stigma prevented many young people from migrant backgrounds having open conversations about their AOD use with family members and professionals. Participants perceived that some parents had less AOD‐related knowledge and lower English language proficiency than their children creating challenges for effective communication. Service providers recognised the importance of engaging with young people in settings where they felt comfortable rather than expecting them to approach their service. Participants also acknowledged the need to invest time in establishing trust and understanding with young migrants so they could facilitate conversations about AOD use as relationships evolved. Although service providers had a strong understanding of young people's needs, they found it challenging to build relationships in the context of funding and time constraints. Our results indicate the need for long‐term funding and timelines that enable service providers to build strong relationships with young migrants, their families and their broader cultural communities to facilitate access to AOD support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police officers may be at a higher risk of suffering from mental disorders (MDs) compared with other occupations. This study aimed to examine the physiological predictors of MDs among police officers in Indonesia. The mental health status of each participant was examined using a standardized Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) tool and underwent several laboratory examinations including hematology, urine, serology, and electrocardiogram tests. A logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratio. Of the 4590 participants, 2.14% were diagnosed with MDs. The study found 19 physiological variables are potential predictors of MDs. In multivariate analysis adjusted for body mass index, sex, and age, the concentration of ketones, protein, and specific gravity in urine and the amount of lymphocyte in the blood are among important predictors of MDs. This suggests that carefully examining the results of urinalysis and hematology tests can help us detect early cases of MDs among police officers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although physical assault among inmates is less prevalent in women's prisons, than men's prisons, the trans men in this study faced physical assault and sexual assault by the correctional staff, as well as by women inmates. While solitary confinement is usually designated for inmates who violate prison policies, like fighting (Haney, 2018), it is also often used as a means of punishment for inmates who identify as gender or sexual minorities. PREA standards recognize trans identities as a risk factor for sexual victimization and states: In deciding whether to assign a transgender or intersex inmate to a facility for male or female inmates, and in making other housing and programming assignments, the agency shall consider on a case-by-case basis whether a placement would ensure the inmate's health and safety, and whether the placement would present management or security problems. Quadarius, who spent five years in prison, was transferred from one prison that did not allow him to wear gender-appropriate undergarments to another prison that allowed for gender-appropriate undergarments if an inmate had "gender dysphoria.". [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the views of patients, police‐officers and emergency mental health workers on the use of the police cell as intervention in a mental health crisis. Design and Methods: We analyzed interviews with individuals involved in police cell interventions, found first labels and categorized them in concordance with the four principles of biomedical ethics and compared them to relevant scientific literature. Findings and Practical Implications: Professionals should know that emergency mental healthcare aimed at controlling the situation is not enough to provide good care. It probably generates better outcomes for patients in the short and long term when patient experiences are taken into consideration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the police force was one of the institutions that was most exposed to possible infections, in addition to suffering stressful situations that affect health. This study aims to independently assess the relationship between demographic, work, and COVID-19 variables, and resilience, engagement, and the perception of health, as well as to evaluate which variables are more important when predicting health perceptions. Method: 640 Spanish police officers were evaluated through a cross-sectional design and online survey. Results: The perception of the lack of personal protective equipment, believing that it is easy to become infected with COVID-19, or working as a police officer were associated with low levels of engagement and resilience and a worse perception of health. More years of experience in the police force was associated with worse health and lower levels of engagement and resilience. Engagement and resilience would be protective variables of health. Conclusions: It is necessary to promote practices related to engagement and resilience in the police force. The discussion emphasizes that more experienced police officers demonstrate less engagement and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and disabling reaction to extreme stress. Because of the strong consequences of long-lasting PTSD symptoms, the research of risk and protective factors is needed. Presented meta-analysis aimed to verify temperament traits according to the Regulative Theory of Temperament as risk/protective factors of PTSD symptoms development. The studies for this meta-analysis were found in four main databases of scientific journals and due to contact with first authors, the unpublished data was accessed as well. The inclusion criteria allowed studies with traumatized adult populations and operationalization of the temperament according to the Regulative Theory of Temperament. Finally, data were included from 19 studies (5971 people: 3443 men and 2528 females, in the age of 13-85) with prospective, longitudinal and cross-sectional study designs, carried out among people exposed to combat trauma, occupational trauma (policemen and fire-fighters), disasters (flood, fire and mining catastrophes), motor vehicle accidents and chronic illnesses. The results show significant moderate and weak relations of all temperament traits to PTSD symptoms regardless of people's gender, type of study, type of trauma, DSM version and temperament measure as well as the time elapsed after the trauma. Among different moderators, a previously unrecognized effect of gender was revealed as it explained a significant amount of variance in the case of emotional reactivity, endurance, and perseveration - the relationship was significantly stronger among men than women. Methodological conclusions for further research on personality and trauma are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health and well‐being of rural paramedics, police, community nursing and child protection staff. Method: An online survey was distributed to investigate the sources of stress and support across individual, task and organisational domains. Setting and Participants: The survey was completed by 1542 paramedics, police, community nurses and child protection workers from all states and territories of Australia. This study describes the data for the 632 rural participants. Main outcome measures: The main measures of well‐being were the Public Health Questionnaire (PHQ9), the Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD7), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), workplace engagement, intention to quit and COVID‐19–related stress. Results: The mean depression and anxiety scores were 8.2 (PHQ9) and 6.8 (GAD7). This is 2–3 times that found in the general community. Over half (56.1%) of respondents showed high emotional exhaustion (burnout). The emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment mean scores were 28.5, 9.3 and 34.2, respectively. The strongest associations with burnout and psychological distress were workload, provision of practical support, training and organisational communication. A significant proportion of respondents were seriously considering quitting (27.4%) or looking for a new job with a different employer (28.5%) in the next 12 months. Conclusions: COVID‐19 has increased the workload and stress on rural front‐line community staff. The major sources of stress were related to organisations' responses to COVID‐19 and not COVID‐19 per se. The data suggest the most effective mental health interventions are practical and preventive, such as firstly ensuring fair and reasonable workloads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Police officers gave accounts of how their perceptions toward Domestic and Family Violence have changed over repeated exposure to these types of incidents as first responders. Interviews were conducted with 16 police officers in an Australian state. Officers expressed a desire to help people and reported personal growth through increased interpersonal skills and open-mindedness but many also became disillusioned. Officers highlighted futility, paperwork, and scrutiny of their actions as factors that inhibited their ability to cope. The findings imply that although officers' competence may increase, their well-being and capacity to do their job effectively and compassionately may become impaired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: During the pandemic, many police dentists had the crucial responsibility of ensuring law and order while providing dental care by taking government-approved health measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The aim of this study was to assess the association between the fear of COVID-19 and Burnout syndrome in Peruvian dentists belonging to the Health Department of the National Police of Peru (PNP), taking into account possible confounding variables., Methods: This cross-sectional and analytical study included 182 PNP dentists. The Fear COVID-19 Scale assessed fear of COVID-19 and the Maslach Burnout Inventory Test assessed burnout syndrome. The association between the fear of COVID-19 and Burnout syndrome (self-fulfilment) was analyzed using Spearman's Rho. A multivariable Poisson regression model with a robust variance estimation method was employed to evaluate the impact of fear of COVID-19 on the various dimensions of Burnout syndrome, considering possible confounding variables. The statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05., Results: Under bivariate analysis, fear of COVID-19 was significantly linked with low direct intensity toward emotional exhaustion (Rho = 0.325, p < 0.001), very low direct intensity toward depersonalization (Rho = 0.180, p = 0.015), and very low inverse intensity toward self-fulfilment (Rho =-0.186, p = 0.012). Under multivariable analysis, it was observed that dentists who exhibited fear of COVID-19 were 3.4 and 3.7 times more likely to experience emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, respectively (APR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.74-6.63 and APR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.31-10.37), as compared to those who did not display fear of COVID-19. Moreover, none of the potential confounding factors were found to have a significant impact on emotional exhaustion (p > 0.05), depersonalization (p > 0.05), and self-fulfilment (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 was significantly associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and inversely associated with self-fulfilment. PNP dentists who exhibited fear of COVID-19 were at greater risk for emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. In developing Burnout syndrome, no significant impact was observed from factors such as age, gender, marital status, children, hierarchy, years of service, work area, private practice, work over 40 h per week, type of service, work performed, sport practice and daily exercise time., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Despite acknowledging the detrimental impact of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) exposure on the mental and physical well-being of investigators and forensic examiners, there is a need for comprehensive exploration into the complex relationship between CSAM exposure, its various dimensions, mental health (i.e., anxiety, depression, and PTSD), and burnout, as well as the presence of positive attitudes towards the job., Objective: To understand how CSAM exposure, mental health and burnout interconnect and cluster within distinct networks of police investigators and forensic examiners., Participants and Setting: Police investigators and forensic examiners from across the United States who were exposed to CSAM as part of their professions (N = 470)., Methods: Participants, recruited through connections with the National Criminal Justice Training Center, completed an anonymous online survey., Results: The network analysis revealed differences in centrality between investigators and forensic examiners, particularly in their associations with exposure factors and mental health variables. Edges invariance tests showed differences in the strength of these associations, with some factors being more strongly linked to PTSD avoidance symptoms among investigators and others among forensic examiners. Stability analyses suggested potentially greater heterogeneity among investigators, while both groups displayed high stability in other centrality indices., Conclusions: This study contributes to our comprehension of the distinct experiences and challenges faced by CSAM investigators and forensic examiners, and specifically the nuanced disparities between CSAM investigators and forensic examiners in terms of their exposure to CSAM content and the associated mental health factors. These insights highlight the imperative need for tailored support mechanisms and interventions that can effectively address the unique challenges encountered by individuals working tirelessly in this critical field., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest with respect to the content of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigates associations between cumulative police exposures, police violence stress, and depressive symptoms among Black youth, and whether LGBQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer) identities moderate these associations. Data come from the Survey of Police-Adolescent Contact Experiences (SPACE), a cross-sectional survey of a community-based sample of Black youth ages 12-21 in Baltimore City, Maryland (n = 345), administered from August 2022 to July 2023. We used multivariable ordinary least squares regression to estimate direct associations and product-term analysis to test for effect modification by sexual identities. We also calculate covariate-adjusted predicted depressive symptoms scores by cumulative police exposures and police violence stress across sexual identities. Findings indicate that LGBQ youth collectively reported higher levels of police violence stress than heterosexual youth. Still, LGBQ youth varied in their cumulative police exposures, which were significantly higher among bisexual and queer youth than lesbian or gay youth. Associations between cumulative police exposures, police violence stress, and depressive symptoms were significantly moderated by LGBQ identity, with the largest associations emerging for bisexual and queer youth. Police exposures and police violence stress also compounded to worsen depressive symptoms among the subsample of LGBQ youth. Collectively, our findings suggest that LGBQ youth-especially bisexual and queer youth-may be particularly vulnerable to the mental health harms of cumulative police exposures and police violence stress. Intersectional, public health approaches that combine prevention and treatment strategies are needed to mitigate LGBQ mental health inequities stemming from cumulative police exposures and police violence stress., (© 2024. The New York Academy of Medicine.)

Recent research has introduced the concept of leader-member exchange (LMX) ambivalence and has shown that it can be detrimental to employee task performance. Drawing on self-determination theory and models of LMX development, this research investigates whether LMX ambivalence may also negatively influence employee well-being. In a two-wave field study with 278 employees in a large police organisation, we found that LMX ambivalence was significantly associated with two focal measures of work-related well-being: work engagement and emotional exhaustion, through its influence on psychological need fulfilment. Perceived positive meaning in work was found to buffer the negative effects of LMX ambivalence on psychological need fulfilment and well-being. Overall, these results contribute to the occupational health literature by demonstrating that psychological need fulfilment helps explain why LMX ambivalence negatively affects work related well-being outcomes and underscores the important role of positive meaning in work as a buffer for these relationships., (© 2023 The Authors. Stress and Health published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In the same year the world was thrown into turmoil with COVID-19, the USA also experienced a surge in attention given to the plight of Black people in the policing system, following the killing of George Floyd. Both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing "pandemic" of police and White violence against Black people in the USA cause significant amounts of stress, disproportionately affecting Black people. Utilizing qualitative analysis of responses from 128 Black-identifying participants to an online survey, this investigation seeks to understand how the coping strategies of Black people in the USA compare between the racism-related stressor of police killings of Black people and the generalized stressor of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings demonstrate that while Black people use overlapping strategies to deal with stress, clear patterns exist with regard to differences across racism-related and non-racism-related stressors. We report important implications for understanding the impact of COVID-19 on Black people, cultural understandings of research on coping, and Black mental health more broadly., (© 2023. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Objective: To assess the psychological impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the police and armed forces., Methods: Participants ( N = 242) completed an online survey that assessed posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), burnout, emotional suppression, and labor and sociodemographic variables. Mean difference, correlation, and stepwise linear regression tests were performed., Results: One-third of participants showed severe PTSS, linked to patrolling duties, very frequent contact with other people, fear of contagion, perceived pandemic severity, living with at-risk people, taking a COVID-19 test, working more than normal, suffering an assault, having little vacation, and having to distance from loved ones. PTSS also correlated with the burnout dimensions and emotional suppression. Three-quarters had not received any support from their workplace., Conclusions: Effective interventions to optimize these professionals' personal, social, and working conditions are needed., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest: None declared., (Copyright © 2024 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Transgender women of color (TWOC) experience high rates of police violence and victimization compared to other sexual and gender minority groups, as well as compared to other White transgender and cisgender women. While past studies have demonstrated how frequent police harassment is associated with higher psychological distress, the effect of neighborhood safety and neighborhood police violence on TWOC's mental health is rarely studied. In this study, we examine the association between neighborhood safety and neighborhood police violence with psychological distress among TWOC. Baseline self-reported data are from the TURNNT ("Trying to Understand Relationships, Networks and Neighborhoods among Transgender Woman of Color") Cohort Study (analytic n = 303). Recruitment for the study began September 2020 and ended November 2022. Eligibility criteria included being a TWOC, age 18-55, English- or Spanish-speaking, and planning to reside in the New York City metropolitan area for at least 1 year. In multivariable analyses, neighborhood safety and neighborhood police violence were associated with psychological distress. For example, individuals who reported medium levels of neighborhood police violence had 1.15 [1.03, 1.28] times the odds of experiencing psychological distress compared to those who experienced low levels of neighborhood police violence. Our data suggest that neighborhood safety and neighborhood police violence were associated with increased psychological distress among TWOC. Policies and programs to address neighborhood police violence (such as body cameras and legal consequences for abusive officers) may improve mental health among TWOC., (© 2024. The New York Academy of Medicine.)

Background: Black Americans are more likely than their White counterparts to experience traumatic injury and worse functional outcomes. Unfair police treatment has been identified as one specific form of racial discrimination potentially driving these deleterious outcomes. The aim of the investigation was to better understand the relationship between experiences of discrimination by police and trauma-specific quality of life outcomes, including PTSD symptom severity, in Black Americans following traumatic injury., Method: Traumatically injured Black American adults (N = 53) presenting to a level 1 trauma center completed a measure of police and law enforcement discrimination at baseline, and quality of life and PTSD were assessed 6 months later., Results: Stepwise regressions results showed more frequent discrimination by police and law enforcement significantly predicted lower emotional and physical well-being 6 months after injury. Further, more frequent police discrimination resulted in more severe PTSD symptoms by 6 months after injury., Conclusions: Findings underscore that following an injury not specifically related to discrimination by police, patients' historical, negative police experiences contributed to worse physical and emotional recovery in the present. These findings, in unison with prior investigations, reveal the need to consider patients' history of negative police experiences as a social determinant of health in their recovery., (© 2023. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Some emergency responders are more often exposed to workplace aggression than others. Victimological theories and previous studies suggest that characteristics of the target may predict exposure to workplace aggression. This paper examines the relationship between negative affect, hostile attribution, dominance, empathy, self-evaluations, and exposure to workplace aggression among emergency responders. Emergency medical workers, firefighters and police officers in the Netherlands filled in a survey during three measurement occasions (6 months apart). Results from the three occupational groups were presented separately. Results suggest that some psychological characteristics are related to exposure to workplace aggression, but that the contribution of these characteristics in the explanation of exposure to workplace aggression is limited. In addition, although differences between occupational groups could not be statistically tested due to differences in the factor structure of exposure to workplace aggression between the three groups of emergency response, differences seem to occur in models between emergency response contexts. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed., (© 2024 The Author(s). Aggressive Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)