NCJ Number
129963
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 39 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 52-54
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Community oriented policing has been adopted by police forces nationwide, including New York City and Newport News, Virginia. Although only a small proportion of the officers in those forces are part of the designated community policing unit, the impact of these units has been widespread.
Abstract
This approach helps officers to become involved in their communities in a proactive, rather than a reactive, way and to help the neighborhood residents solve some of the local crime problems by working with representatives of other agencies. Community policing addresses residents' fear of crime, increases officers' job satisfaction, and reduces reliance on patrol cars. Officers are trained to scan the problem, analyze it, respond to it, and assess the outcome of their actions. By addressing quality of life problems, officers are able to reduce crime and to change perceptions of crime. Critics of community policing believe the concept has not been effectively implemented and challenge police departments to conduct quantitative studies to determine the actual impact on minimizing crime.