NCJ Number
50282
Date Published
1977
Length
15 pages
Annotation
UNTIL THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE INTERVENTION IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED, IT IS LIKELY THAT MANY DOMESTIC DISPUTES WILL RESULT IN VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS AND POLICE OFFICERS.
Abstract
THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ALA. HAD A 5.3 PERCENT INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME FROM 1976 TO 1977. IT IS FELT THAT POLICE STATISTICS REPRESENT ONLY A SMALL FRACTION OF THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES, PARTICULARLY THE NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES OCCURING WITHIN FAMILIES. SUCH UNDERREPORTING MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE RELUCTANCE OF NEIGHBORS AND FAMILY MEMBERS TO REQUEST POLICE ASSISTANCE DURING CONFLICTS AS WELL AS TO THE RELUCTANCE OF THE POLICE TO ENTER INTO SITUATIONS THAT THEY FEEL THEY ARE INADEQUATELY PREPARED TO HANDLE. POLICE ALSO ARE QUITE AWARE THAT DOMESTIC QUARRELS FREQUENTLY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OFFICERS WHO INTERVENE. INDEED, SUCH DUTY IS AMONG THE MOST DANGEROUS THAT CAN BE ASSIGNED TO THE POLICE. POLICE CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE ENFORCERS OF THE LAW RATHER THAN SOCIAL WORKERS. THE POLICE ATTITUDE, REGARDLESS OF ITS BASIS, MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THEIR RESISTANCE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN FAMILY PROBLEMS, AND COMPLEMENTS THE SIMILAR RELUCTANCE OF FAMILY MEMBERS TO REQUEST POLICE INTERVENTION. THE POLICE SEEM TO BE CAUGHT IN ROLE CONFLICTS. THEIR PERCEPTION OF THEIR ROLE DIFFERS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE EXPECTATIONS OF SOCIETY. ON ONE HAND, POLICE ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THEIR SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR ABILITY TO HANDLE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY ARE PRESSURED TO CONTROL AND ABATE THE INCREASING CRIME RATE BY MAINTAINING A 'GET TOUGH' POLICY AND ENGAGING ONLY IN 'LAW AND ORDER' MAINTAINING ACTIVITIES. A CONSIDERABLE CHANGE IN THE PRESENT PUBLIC AND POLICE ATTITUDE TOWARDS OFFICIAL INTERVENTION, OR A COMPLETE ALTERATION OF THE PROBLEM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ITSELF WILL BE REQUIRED TO END THE RECURRING CYCLE OF VIOLENCE. (TWK)