NCJ Number
58127
Date Published
1979
Length
492 pages
Annotation
POLICE ADMINSTRATION IS VIEWED FROM THE TRADITIONAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE IN THIS INTRODUCTORY TEXT WITH CASE STUDIES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT STUDENTS.
Abstract
THIS COMBINATION OF VIEWS ENABLES THE BEGINNING STUDENT OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION, MANAGEMENT, AND ORGANIZATION TO LEARN TRADITIONAL PRINCIPLES AND FUNCTIONS ALONG WITH INNOVATIVE APPROACHES THAT PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON THE HUMAN ASPECT OF ORGANIZATIONS. POLICE TASKS, STRUCTURES, PRINCIPLES, AND FUNCTIONS ARE COVERED AS WELL AS HISTORICAL, SOCIAL, AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF ADMINISTERING POLICE AGENCIES. THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE IN ORGANIZATIONS AND THE RELEVANCE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS IS EXAMINED, AND POLICE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DISCUSSED AS OPEN BEHAVIORAL SYSTEMS INTERACTING WITH THE TOTAL SYSTEM AND WITH OTHER SUBSYSTEMS SUCH AS BUREAUS, DIVISIONS, UNITS, SQUADS, TEAMS, BEATS, AND INDIVIDUALS. ORGANIZATIONAL IMPROVEMENT TECHNIQUES FROM THE FIELDS OF BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND PUBLIC MANAGEMENT ARE EXAMINED AS THEY MIGHT BE APPLIED TO POLICE ORGANIZATIONS; THESE INCLUDE EDUCATION, PROFESSIONALIZATION, JOB ENRICHMENT, PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT, REORGANIZATION, DECENTRALIZATION, AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH. BASIC ISSUES IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION ARE ALSO DEALT WITH: THE OBJECTIVES OF POLICING, PUBLIC CONTROL OF POLICING, DUE PROCESS OF LAW, PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFECTIVENESS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF DISCRETION. FINALLY, THE CASE STUDIES GIVE THE STUDENT A CHANCE TO APPLY THEORY TO PRACTICE AND THEREBY GAIN IMPORTANT CONCEPTUAL TOOLS USEFUL IN IDENTIFYING AND ANALYZING ORGANIZATIONAL PROBLEMS. EACH CHAPTER BEGINS WITH A STATEMENT OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND ENDS WITH A SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)