NCJ Number
44050
Date Published
1977
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TRACED FROM ANCIENT TIMES THROUGH CONTEMPORARY ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERNS AND PRACTICES, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO POLICING IN THE UNITED STATES.
Abstract
ANCIENT SYSTEMS OF MAINTAINING ORDER ARE NOTED, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICING PRACTICES IN ANGLO-EUROPEAN SOCIETIES IS REVIEWED. THE LAWS OF HAMMURABI, THE NORMAN 'FRANK PLEDGE' ARRANGEMENT, THE EMERGENCE OF THE CONSTABLE AND THE JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, THE MAGNA CARTA, AND THE STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER ARE AMONG THE EARLY MILESTONES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT HISTORY CITED. THE ORIGIN IN LONDON OF MODERN POLICING IS DESCRIBED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE POLICE REFORMS INTRODUCED BY SIR ROBERT PEEL. THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT IS TRACED FROM THE COLONIAL PERIOD THROUGH THE 1960'S, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE PERIODS OF CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION, WESTERN EXPANSION, INDUSTRIALIZATION, PROHIBITION, AND DEPRESSION. RECURRING THEMES IN AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT HISTORY ARE NOTED, PARTICULARLY THE CONSISTENT REFUSAL BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTION. THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES OF CONTEMPORARY POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE DESCRIBED, AND POLICE AGENCY GOALS ARE DISCUSSED. ASPECTS OF POLICE AGENCY STAFFING AND PERSONNEL PRACTICES ARE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING SALARIES AND PROMOTIONS, FRINGE BENEFITS, EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION AND MORALE, STANDARDS OF CONDUCT AND PERFORMANCE, AND EDUCATION AND TRAINING. ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE USE OF CITIZEN BOARDS TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS ARE REVIEWED. A CHAPTER TEST IS PROVIDED.