CHANGING THE POLICE: PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS AS EASTERN EUROPE MOVES WEST (FROM SOCIAL CHANGE, CRIME AND POLICE: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, JUNE 1-4, 1992, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, P 323-330, 1993, JOZSEF VIGH AND GEZA KATONA, EDS. -- SEE NCJ-144794)

• NCJ Number: 144826
• Author(s): R I Mawby
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: Eotvos Lorand University
• Publication Type: Research (Theoretical)
• Language: English
• Country: Hungary

Annotation

This consideration of the directions that might be taken by Eastern European police systems focuses on options in the areas of police legitimacy, structure, and function.

Abstract

The source of legitimacy for the police in democratic societies has been the law and the general public. Although there has been recent emphasis on police accountability to the public, this poses a number of problems, namely, the structure of implementing police accountability to the public, the handling of diverse expectations for the police in a pluralistic public, the danger of a zealous public that wants a more repressive police effort, and the threat of a magnified police presence through the alliance of private citizens and civilian organizations with police efforts that reduce privacy. Key issues in options for police organizational structure are the extent to which there is one or more police organizations within a country; and in the latter case, whether or not the police agency is structured on a central or local level or both. The militaristic character of the police is also a matter to be considered. Regarding police functions there are two major issues: what the police do and how they do it. This has to do with delineations of the police role in meeting various types of citizen needs. Should the police only respond to crime after it has occurred, or should they also focus their efforts on countering various factors that tend to produce crime? 26 references