Effective Communication
Martin Roth
CJA/304
July 24th, 2014
Douglas Campbell

Effective Communication
What is communication? The term “communication” in a broad sense is how one listens and corresponds with others. Though there are many definitions of the term everyone may have their own general idea what it is to communicate as well as understand what is being communicated to them. In this paper the author will be discussing some major points such as the process of verbal and nonverbal communication, differences between listening and hearing, formal and informal channels of communication associated with criminal justice, barriers in effective communication, and strategies that may be implemented to overcome those barriers.
In order for people to communicate effectively there is a process that involves verbal and nonverbal communication. Within this process there are 5 steps that are followed. The first step is transmitting and idea. This is the forming of one or more thoughts. The expression of the idea is an intentional act put forth by the person with the formed idea. The second step is sending the idea through a medium. There are several different ways to send the message and they are as follows: orally, in writing, or by action. Sending a message that is written vs. orally can make a major difference in how it is understood. When sending a message orally the tone of one’s voice can dictate to another how the message should be taken. Thirdly is receiving the message. Receipt of a message is the most critical step in the communication process. If the message is not received then is simply cannot be acted upon. The final step in the communication process is understanding the idea. If the idea(s) cannot be understood by everyone that it is being conveyed to then it is of no use to anyone (Wallace and Roberson, 2009).
In communication there are differences between listening and hearing. Hearing is thought as a physical ability and is a passive action consequence of the auditory system. Listening allows people to make sense of and understand what the other person is attempting to communicate. This can sometimes be difficult with certain people. Simple distractions in the background can affect the message that is being sent. Learning how not to be distracted while conversing with another can be a task within itself especially with all of the digital distractions in today’s world (Al-Omari and Elias, 2014).
In criminal justice organizations there are formal and informal channels of communication. According to (Wallace and Roberson, 2009), “Channels of information refer to the methods or avenues by which information flows from one party to another, and direction of information indicates the way in which communication flows”. In a police organization the traditional route or method of communication is that of the formal channel. Much like that of the military formal orders, directives and memorandums are used. The use of these has advantages as well as disadvantages but are easily understood. Total reliance on this form of communication can also be detrimental. Informal channels of communication are rarely used within a police organization. Information should come from the top of the organizational chain to the bottom. Some situations call for informal communication simply because questions about a report need to be answered so therefore for instance a detective may have to ask a patrol officer about said report. The informal and formal channels of communication serve as guidelines for effective communication within police organizations as well as other organizations.
Many organizations have barriers to effective communication. These barriers include: emotional barriers, physical barriers, semantic barriers, and ineffective listening. Some or all of these barriers of communication exist within a criminal justice organization. Emotional barriers are those that cause offices not to communicate with the organization because of fear of being ridiculed. Physical barriers are those in which the environment makes it difficult to communicate and free flow of information is an absolute must. Semantic barriers are those of words being misused or there is an inability to agree on the meaning of the said term. The final barrier is ineffective listening. Being inattentive while listening especially in large groups is an issue in any organization. Subject matter as well as the information being portrayed may be to complex (Wallace and Roberson, 2009).
Criminal justice organizations much like other organizations have barriers in how they communicate with one another. There are some strategies that can and should be implemented to pacify ineffective communication and barriers. Two strategies for overcoming communication barriers include active listening and feedback. Through feedback, active listening skills can be developed. If the listening skills are honed through effective feedback within the organization, police officers will become better listeners in the field as well as within the department itself. Effective listening can be summed up by a few simple principles: be patient, open minded, and care (Wallace and Roberson, 2009).
In this paper the author has discussed major points such as the process of verbal and nonverbal communication, differences between listening and hearing, formal and informal channels of communication associated with criminal justice, barriers in effective communication, and strategies that may be implemented to overcome those barriers.

References
Criminal Justice Law. (N.A.). Communication Frustration. Retrieved from http://criminaljusticelaw.us/principles/leadership/communication-frustration/
Research Gate. (2014). Are you a good listener? Retrieved from http://www.researchgate.net/post/Are_you_a_good_listener_What_is_the_difference_between_hearing_and_listening
Wallace, H., & Roberson, C. (2009). Written and Interpersonal Communication (4th ed.). New York, NY: Prentice Hall.