IMPLEMENTING LEGAL POLICIES THROUGH OPERANT CONDITIONING - THE CASE OF POLICE PRACTICES

• NCJ Number: 3316
• Journal: Law and Society Review Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1971) Pages: 195-222
• Author(s): J P Levine
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 28 pages
• Corporate Author: Law and Society Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. PRESENTED AT THE 1970 MEETING OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSN, SEPT 1971, LOS ANGELES CA

Annotation

IMPLEMENTING REFORM AND LEGAL CHANGES IN POLICE OPERATIONS BY ALTERING THE TIME HONORED ROUTINES OF THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER.

Abstract

THE DESIREABILITY OF POLICE RESTRAINT AND REGULARIZED PROCEDURES IN DEALING WITH CITIZENS IS CONTRASTED TO THE FUTILITY AND INEFFECTIVENESS OF PUNISHMENT AS A MEANS OF BEHAVIOR CHANGE. THE SYSTEMATIC CALCULATION OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO GIVE POLICE A VESTED INTEREST IN THESE GOALS IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF SELECTING POSITIVE REINFORCERS, ARRANGING REWARD SCHEDULES, EFFICIENTLY, AND REDUCING POLICE EMOTIONALISM THROUGH COUNTER-CONDITIONING.