Hello Classmates,
The criminal justice profession I chose for the Module One discussion was a police officer. The reason I originally chose this career was because our textbook states that law enforcement is the first contact a victim of crime has with the criminal justice system after victimization (Takahashi & James, 2018, p. 13). Police officers play a significant role in victimology. A victims first impression with law enforcement professionals impacts their experiences moving forward within the system (Takahashi & James, 2018, p. 13). Knowledge about victimology helps police officers understand how to interact with victims, how to offer victim assistance, and provides them with the tools necessary for helping victims overcome victimization (Takahashi & James, 2018, p. 13).
The one way my thought process has changed regarding the role of this career in victimology is the impact that empathy can have on the interactions between victims of crime and police officers. I learned throughout this course that empathy is key to mending the current police-community relationship that permeates American society (Posick, 2015). Displaying empathy during interactions with both victims and offenders is important for those in law enforcement in order to be trusted, legitimized, and deemed effected by the public (Posick, 2015).
As I stated in the Module One discussion, I do not have an interest in pursuing a career as a police officer. However, I highly respect the role they play in the criminal justice system. I desire a future career for a federal agency and will most likely be working aside police officers throughout my professional journey. Speaking of, I have an interview for a Police Records Specialist next week!
Marisa Miller
References
Posick, C. (2015, April 20). Empathy On The Street: How Understanding Between Police and Communities Makes Us Safer. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/empathy-on-the-street-how-understanding-between-police-and-communities-makes-us-safer-40041
Takahashi, Y., & James, C. (2018). Victimology and Victim Assistance. SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781544350738
In response to two of your peers, provide any additional information regarding the career and victimology that you have learned in this course, such as the following:
- Interactions with victims
- Application of empathy in the career field
- How understanding victimology can help in the profession chosen
If possible, provide resources to your peers regarding this career and opportunities in the field.