NCJ Number
7550
Journal
Public Administration Review Volume: 32 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (OCTOBER 1972) Pages: 718-735
Date Published
1972
Length
18 pages
Annotation
IMPACT OF DECENTRALIZATION AND CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES, AND ON THE COURTS AND CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
IT IS IN THE POLICE COMPONENT WHERE MOST OF THE DECENTRALIZATION AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ACTION HAS BEEN FOUND. THIS IS PROBABLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FACT THAT POLICE ACTION IS PAINFULLY OBVIOUS TO THE RESIDENTS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ITS IMPACT FELT IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY. IT ALSO IS A GOVERNMENTAL SUBSYSTEM MANNED BY PERSONS WITHOUT SPECIAL PRESERVICE EDUCATION, WHICH MAKES THE ORDINARY CITIZEN BELIEVE THAT HE IS QUALIFIED TO COMMENT ON AND PARTICIPATE IN POLICE OPERATIONS. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE POLICE LEVEL DETERMINES TO A LARGE EXTENT WHAT THE BALANCE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN DO. THE PRIMARY SORTING OUT OF CRIMINALS FROM ORDINARY CITIZENS IS DONE BY POLICEMEN. POLICE OFFICERS DETERMINE, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THE LIMITS OF COMMUNITY TOLERANCE IN THEIR EXERCISE OF DISCRETION AS TO HOW LIMITED RESOURCES FOR ENFORCEMENT ARE TO BE DEPLOYED. IT IS LITERALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM TO ENFORCE ALL OF THE LAW ALL OF THE TIME. ONLY THOSE ARRESTED BY THE POLICE CAN BE ADJUDICATED BY THE COURTS AND REHABILITATED BY CORRECTIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)