Public Speaking for Criminal Justice Professionals

Book excerpt: Public Speaking for Criminal Justice Professionals: A Manner of Speaking is a one-of-a-kind public speaking guide specifically written for criminal justice professionals, written by a criminal justice professional. Author Thomas Mauriello has worked his entire professional career both as a practitioner and as an educator in the fields of criminal justice and forensic science. This book outlines the public speaking skills he has learned, used, and taught to thousands of criminal justice, forensic science, security, and counterintelligence professionals over the years. The book can either be read from cover-to-cover—to fine tune the reader’s existing oral communication skills—or read in a modular fashion, as a reference guide to focus on certain skills and techniques. A list of over 55 proven, effective presentation tools will be listed, discussed, and demonstrated throughout the book—using illustrated criminal justice and forensic sciences topic examples. Contrary to popular believe, simply knowing your subject or being an expert in the subject does not guarantee a successful presentation. Aristotle, who many recognize as the Father of Public Speaking and Forensic Debate, said it best when he declared, "It is not enough to know what to say, one must know how to say it." This guide focuses on technique and the recognition that a speaker must have of both the subject and the listener. The purpose is to improve readers' skill level and ability to engage and, thereby, inform the listener. Whether preparing to speak to one person, or one thousand people, Public Speaking for Criminal Justice Professionals provides specific techniques for professionals to speaking with confidence, and present effective engaging presentations.