NCJ Number
67052
Date Published
1978
Length
362 pages
Annotation
EXISTING POLICE ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA, THE CRIME PROBLEM, AND AREAS FOR REFORM AND IMPROVEMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
POLICE SERVICES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STATE IN INDIA, BUT EACH LOCAL POLICE FORCE TAKES ON A PARTICULAR CHARACTER ACCORDING TO THE COMMUNITY SERVED AND THE POLICIES OF LOCAL POLICE LEADERSHIP. POLICE AGENCIES IN RURAL AREAS ARE NOT AS SPECIALIZED AND FORMAL AS THOSE IN URBAN AREAS, BECAUSE URBAN POLICE MUST DEAL WITH A VARIETY OF CRIMES AND ISSUES OF PUBLIC ORDER. CRIME IS ON THE INCREASE IN INDIA, BECAUSE OF THE FRAGMENTATION OF FAMILIES, URBANIZATION, SOCIAL CHANGE, AND THE SECULARIZATION OF SCHOOLING, ALL OF WHICH HAS UNDERMINED THE INTERNALIZATION OF TRADITIONAL ETHICAL VALUES AMONG YOUTH. CORRUPTION ALSO PLAGUES OFFICIALDOM, INCLUDING THE POLICE IN MANY CASES, GENERALLY UNDERMINING THE PUBLIC'S CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF GOVERNMENT TO DEAL UNSELFISHLY WITH COMMUNITY PROBLEMS. COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEMS OF THE POLICE IS THE PUBLIC'S GENERAL BELIEF THAT THE POLICE ARE TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF COMMUNITY LIFE. THIS STEMS PARTLY FROM THE IMAGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE BRITISH RULE. WHAT IS NEEDED IS LONG-RANGE COMMUNITY PLANNING BASED UPON CHANGES LIKELY TO OCCUR IN GIVEN COMMUNITIES, WHERE POLICE, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND CITIZENS PLAN TOGETHER TO MEET EXISTING AND ANTICIPATED COMMUNITY NEEDS, POLICE TRAINING WOULD THEN DEVELOP IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLANNED OBJECTIVES. A GREATER COMMITMENT OF PUBLIC RESOURCES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IS ALSO NEEDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, TABULAR DATA, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED.