NCJ Number
168927
Date Published
1993
Length
39 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides an overview of police responsibilities, structure, management, and operations.
Abstract
Following a review of a typical police organizational structure (patrol, investigative, and support services), the nature of the police subculture and its impact on police behavior and attitudes are discussed. This is followed by a discussion of the pool and procedures for police recruiting. Another section provides an outline of the concerns that repeatedly surface in the police literature, followed by a brief comment on the issues raised by the police beating of Rodney King, Jr. The pros and cons of expanding police numbers as a cost-effective measure are considered, along with the importance of adopting management principles that can control police brutality and corruption. An overview of community policing focuses on its ideology, structure and effectiveness. Elements of a structure to control police behavior to comply with community expectations are outlined, followed by discussions of the tenure and selection of police chiefs, removing the police from politics, and the political "wings" of policing. The chapter concludes with a listing of factors that research has shown to have a significant influence on the effectiveness of policing.