NCJ Number
17810
Editor(s)
S A MCGRATH
Date Published
1974
Length
318 pages
Annotation
A POLICE SCIENCE TEXTBOOK WHICH PROVIDES AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BACKGROUND, PRINCIPLES, STRUCTURE, SPECIFIC POWERS, ACTUAL PROCEDURES, AND PROBLEMS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Abstract
THE ORIGINS OF PRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM ITS BASIS IN BRITISH CUSTOMS TO AMERICAN URBAN POLICING METHODS IS TRACED. THE DEFINITIONS OF CRIME ACCORDING TO LEGAL STATUTES, DISTINCTIONS AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF CRIME, QUESTIONS OF JURISDICTION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE CAUSES OF CRIME ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLICE DUTIES SUCH AS POLICE PATROL, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND INVESTIGATION, ARRESTS, SEARCH AND SEIZURE AND REPORT WRITING ARE CONSIDERED. ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES OF SPECIAL DIVISIONS WITHIN THE POLICE ARE EXPLORED AS WELL. AMONG THESE ARE THE JUVENILE DIVISION, THE DETECTIVE DIVISION, FINGERPRINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND CRIMINALISTICS. OTHER TOPICS DISCUSSED INCLUDE THE HANDLING OF EVIDENCE BY POLICE OFFICERS AND SPECIAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS VICTIMLESS CRIME AND CONFRONTATION POLITICS.