Abstracts Category : Other

Social workers and law enforcement officers: an exploration of this relationship

by Victoria A Martinez

This phenomenological qualitative study utilizes Conflict theory and community policing framework to explore the lived of experiences of social workers and law enforcement officers who partake in professional working relationships with one another. This study included 24 law enforcement officer participants and twenty-three social work participants. While exploring this relationship three themes were found to impact the relations. The themes are communication, training and understanding, and collaboration and partnership. Lastly, this study discovered that all of the social workers and many of the police officers felt that their relationship impacted the communities in which they work. The researcher then suggests ideas about how to enhance this relationship.Advisors/Committee Members: Middleton, E, Jane (advisor).