INFLUENCE OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL STYLE ON CRIME CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS

• NCJ Number: 31973
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1975) Pages: 274-279
• Author(s): T A REPPETTO
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL VERSUS PROFESSIONAL POLICING STYLES, THIS STUDY COMPARED THE CLEARANCE RATES IN TWO DEMOGRAPHICALLY SIMILAR CITIES WHICH REPRESENTED ARCHTYPES OF THESE TWO POLICING STYLES.

Abstract

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRADITIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCES ARE DESCRIBED. GENERALLY, THE TRADITIONAL STYLE IS SEEN AS A MORE INFORMAL, UNREGULATED, 'NIGHT WATCH' STYLE OF POLICING, WHILE THE PROFESSIONAL STYLE IS CHARACTERIZED BY HIGH REGULATION, STRICT ADMINISTRATION, AND INCORPORATION OF RECENT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN POLICING. CLEARANCE RATES FOR AUTO THEFT AND HOMICIDE WERE COMPARED FOR THE TWO CITIES. THESE CRIMES WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY ARE USUALLY THE MOST ACCURATELY REPORTED OF THE INDEX CRIMES. THE COMPARISON SHOWED THAT THE CITY WHICH UTILIZED THE PROFESSIONAL POLICING METHOD HAD CONSIDERABLY HIGHER CLEARANCE RATES THAN THE TRADITIONAL POLICING CITY. FROM THESE RESULTS, THE AUTHOR ARGUES THAT POLICING STYLE DOES AFFECT CRIME CONTROL, AND THAT THE PROFESSIONAL STYLE IS MORE EFFECTIVE.