ALLOCATION OF POLICE PROTECTION BY INCOME CLASS (FROM ECONOMICS OF CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, 1976 BY LEE R MCPHETERS AND WILLIAM B STRONGE - SEE NCJ-37726)

• NCJ Number: 37740
• Author(s): J C WEICHER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE DIRECTIONS AND THE EXTENT OF THE INCOME REDISTRIBUTION THAT IS GENERATED BY MUNICIPAL EXPENDITURES ON POLICE PATROL ACTIVITIES, AND THE TAXES LEVIED TO FINANCE THESE EXPENDITURES.

Abstract

OTHER STUDIES HAVE GENERALLY ASSUMED THAT THE PATTERN OF POLICE SERVICE EXPENDITURES HAVE HAD THE EFFECT OF REDISTRIBUTING INCOME FROM THE POOR TO THE RICH AND MIDDLE-CLASS RESIDENTS OF A CITY. CONTRARY TO THE COMMON ASSUMPTION, EXPENDITURES ON POLICE PROTECTION, IN SO FAR AS THEY CAN BE ALLOCATED TO INCOME CLASSES, ARE NOT MADE PRIMARILY TO SERVE RICH AND MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES AND DO NOT INVOLVE INCOME REDISTRIBUTION IN FAVOR OF THESE GROUPS; RATHER, EXPENDITURES ARE MADE PRIMARILY IN POOR DISTRICTS, TO SERVE POOR FAMILIES, WHO ARE SUBSIDIZED BY THE MIDDLE INCOME CLASSES. THE POSITION OF THE RICH IS AMBIGUOUS. THEY MAY BE SUBSIZED BY THE MIDDLE INCOME CLASSES, OR THEY MAY JOIN THOSE CLASSES IN SUBSIDIZING THE POOR. IN EITHER CASE, THEIR POSITION IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT COMMONLY ASSUMED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)