NCJ Number
145210
Date Published
1993
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This futures study explores possibilities for community review of law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
The potential exists for an intensifying of public scrutiny of law enforcement, and increased violent crime and civil disobedience. Many law enforcement agencies will respond to publicly stressful events and phenomena using crisis management. They should, however, develop a well- thought-out community-based strategy. The author recommends developing an Integrated Community Review Mechanism, the centerpiece of which would be a formal Community Advisory Board. The board would be an arm of the police chief or sheriff and be formally recognized both internally and externally as part of the police organization, but would be politically informal and serve purely an advisory function. With such a scenario, the board could effectively conduct issue-oriented forums and other group meetings. Among more than 40 mid-sized California law enforcement agencies surveyed, all already use at least one component of the recommended mechanism, but none have integrated their efforts into a single recognized systemic approach. 5 endnotes and 10 references