NCJ Number
94703
Date Published
1984
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This summary of a study of the extent and nature of private security updates existing data on the industry, highlights findings on the contribution of private security to crime control and order maintenance, and reviews the working relationships between private security and public law enforcement.
Abstract
Research data were gathered in a survey of more than 400 persons in law enforcement and proprietary and contractual security. State agencies regulating private security and 1600 law enforcement and security managers. In addition, an economic analysis and forecast and two field studies in urban counties were carried out. A major finding was that private security resources now exceed those of law enforcement and will continue to increase as resources for law enforcement stabilize. Both police and security managers are receptive to the ideas that private security respond to some minor criminal incidents occurring on the property they protect and that some non-crime-related police tasks be contracted out to the private sector. However, at present there is limited interaction and cooperation between public and private security, and law enforcement executives tend to view private security programs as largely ineffective in reducing crime. The quality of security personnel is a major police concern. Crime reporting is a low priority for security managers, businesses and institutions divert many criminal acts from the public justice system by internal mechanisms. Recommendations focus on upgrading private security, increasing police knowledge of private security and interacting with it, and transfering some police responsibilities to private industry. Charts show growth expenditures for police and private protection, as well as trends in private and public protection employment.