COMMUNITY POLICE PATROLS - AN EXPLORATORY INQUIRY

• NCJ Number: 10129
• Author(s): G T MARX; D ARCHER
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 97 pages
• Grant Number(s): NI 70-070
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Harvard University
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH AND COLLECTION OF DATA ON CITIZEN MOBILIZATION AROUND ISSUES OF CRIME, ORDER, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

ATTENTION IS CENTERED ON FORMALLY ORGANIZED, NON-GOVERNMENTAL GROUPS WHICH ARISE AS SUPPLEMENTS OR ALTERNATIVES TO THE POLICE. A TYPOLOGY OF PATROLS IS DEVELOPED, SOME DESCRIPTIVE DATA PRESENTED, AND FIVE ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS WHICH PATROLS MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH ARE DISCUSSED. USING A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF THE BOSTON AREA, THE PUBLIC BASE FROM WHICH PATROLS RECRUIT MEMBERS IS EXAMINED. ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO DISCOVER PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PATROLS AND TO DETERMINE WHAT SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDES DIFFERENTIATE THOSE SUPPORTIVE OF THE PATROLS FROM THOSE OPPOSED OR INDIFFERENT TO THEM. 'AMONG ISSUES CONSIDERED WERE-WHEN AND HOW COMMUNITIES MOBILIZE AROUND ISSUES OF CRIME AND LAW ENFORCEMENT, HOW PEOPLE COME TO DEFINE LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS AS REQUIRING ACTION, HOW AND WHERE COMMUNITY PATROLS EMERGE, HOW POLICE VIEW THESE EFFORTS, AND THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION.' (AUTHOR MODIFIED)