NCJ Number
173815
Date Published
1996
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This chapter explores the police role and legal parameters in addressing crime and violence in the home and the streets.
Abstract
There is increasing recognition that a working partnership between the police and the community is needed to address crime. This recognition has fostered the implementation of community policing, in which businesses, community organizations, and residents work together to target and address identified crime problems in a particular community. In addition to the involvement of more civilians in community policing, there is also an increased cooperation between public and private police, as well as the use of police reserves and cadet programs. A significant problem for which police receive a significant proportion of calls is domestic violence. A review of the history of police response to such incidents shows that police have moved from a "hands-off" policy to one of handling domestic violence like any other assault case; many departments mandate arrest under departmental guidelines. Treatment and social services for both victims and offenders are part of the regimen for domestic- violence cases in many jurisdictions. Although U.S. Supreme Court rulings over recent years have eroded citizen protections under the exclusionary rule and Miranda mandates, police still must operate under legal parameters designed to prevent police abuse of authority. Study questions, 47 references, 27 cited court cases