NCJ Number
181600
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 63 Issue: 2 Dated: December 1999 Pages: 25-32
Editor(s)
Ellen W. Fielding
Date Published
1999
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Following a brief description of relations between New York law enforcement agencies and the community, the authors take a more in-depth look at the Boston situation in order to understand the process through which the city's impressive violence reduction and community collaboration has been achieved.
Abstract
In New York, significant increases in money and manpower have facilitated the implementation of various labor-intensive strategies to sustain aggressive law enforcement initiatives. Improved relations between inner city residents and the police, however, have not accompanied New York's crime rate successes. In Boston, innovations have occurred in police and probation practices to deal with drugs and violence. Community-based change has been initiated to facilitate interagency and community-based collaboration in reducing crime. The result has been an effective partnership between the police and community leaders and a reduction in homicide. Factors responsible for improving police-community relations in Boston include pre-emptive and direct communication, the importance of legitimacy, and the acknowledgement of mutual responsibility. The Boston Police Department recognizes community support is crucial to policing innovations. 16 references and 2 notes