NCJ Number
242599
Date Published
June 2013
Length
14 pages
Annotation
After defining the aspects of policing that benefit from scientifically derived knowledge based on social science research (science) and defining those aspects of policing that involve "craft," this paper proposes a policing model that combines both of these perspectives.
Abstract
The scientific approach to policing involves the use of scientific methods to determine which policing policies and strategies are effective or ineffective in producing specific public-safety objectives. This evidence-based policing tends to view the police professional as a technical expert, whose efforts to solve crime and disorder problems are influenced by knowledge of scientific research applicable to the various policing domains. From the perspective of "craft," professionalism has a different definition. Effective policing is derived from experience, not scientific knowledge. By interacting with a variety of people in a variety of situations over time, patrol officers gain practical knowledge and develop skills that facilitate alertness, observation, quick analysis, stress management, and psychological tactics that lead to the avoidance and prevention of violence, less use of force, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Scientific research can document the effectiveness of police officers who have honed the "craft" of policing, but only experience, temperament, and skills developed over time in policing practice produce the "craft" of policing. This paper suggests ways in which the "craft" and science of policing can be integrated to produce evidence-based policies that are implemented effectively by officers who appreciate and strive to develop the "craft" of policing. 47 references