NCJ Number
169473
Journal
EuroCriminology Volume: 11 Dated: (1997) Pages: 183-202
Date Published
1997
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The impact of privatizing certain police tasks on the criminal justice system is assessed as a way of relieving some of the burdens of police organizations.
Abstract
In many countries, police officers have varied responsibilities and may succumb to stress. Overworked police officers are especially vulnerable to stress in the course of investigating violent crimes and as they face the possibility of being killed or assaulted. The idea of privatizing certain police tasks has been considered since the 1960's. The range of activities pursued by the private security sector has increased to include industrial security, internal protection of economic units and companies, private alarm centers, private transport of money and valuables, personal protection, and private detective agencies. The intensive growth in private security has resulted from increased crime, the appearance of new forms of crime, and public perceptions of government police ineffectiveness. The question of whether privatizing certain police tasks is an opportunity or a threat to public safety, however, remains unresolved. The role of community policing in improving police effectiveness and ties with the community is evaluated, and community policing is viewed as both a philosophy and a strategy. The responsibility of police managers to provide effective police services to the community, whether under government or private auspices, is discussed. 39 footnotes