Police Psychology

Abstract

Police psychology applies psychological principles to law enforcement settings and problems. Researchers and clinical psychologists from a variety of backgrounds and specialities contribute to this field. The goal of police psychology is to help law enforcement professionals perform their jobs effectively, ethically, safely, and lawfully. The field of police psychology can be broken down into two main areas: organisational police psychology and individual police psychology. Organisational police psychology focusses on developing selection and recruitment procedures, aiding in training protocols, and evaluating police procedures to ensure best practices. Individual police psychology focusses on research and applied work with police officers in areas such as use of force, stress and burnout, and clinical intervention.