FROM MINORITY RECRUITMENT TO PROFESSIONALIZATION - NEW DIRECTIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE (FROM CRIME AND JUSTICE IN AMERICA - CRITICAL ISSUES FOR THE FUTURE, 1979, BY JOHN T O'BRIEN AND MARVIN MARCUS - SEE NCJ-62849)

• NCJ Number: 62863
• Author(s): L L STABILE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REPRESENTATIVENESS, RESPONSIVENESS, AND EFFICIENCY ARE DISCUSSED AS THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE PERSONNEL AND AGENCIES DEVELOPING NOW AND INTO THE 1980'S.

Abstract

IN RECENT YEARS, POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVING REPRESENTATIVENESS THROUGH AN EMPHASIS ON RECRUITING AND SELECTING PERSONNEL FROM ALL ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND SEXUAL GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. AT THE SAME TIME, POLICE AGENCIES HAVE BEEN CONCERNED WITH RESPONSIVENESS TO COMMUNITY SERVICE NEEDS. THIS IS BEING ACHIEVED THROUGH EMPHASIS ON THE SELECTION OF HIGHLY EDUCATED PRACTITIONERS WHO CAN DEAL WITH COMPLEX ISSUES OF HUMAN RELATIONS, SOCIAL CONFLICT, AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. BEYOND 1984, THE FOCUS IN POLICE AGENCIES IS LIKELY TO SHIFT TO EFFICIENCY--IMPROVED ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. GREATER EFFICIENCY WILL BE ACHIEVED BY INCREASED PROFESSIONALIZATION. THIS WILL OCCUR THROUGH DEVELOPMENT ON THE FOLLOWING FRONTS: (1) AN EXPANDED AND STANDARDIZED BODY OF THEORY AND/OR KNOWLEDGE WILL EMERGE REGARDING POLICE WORK; (2) AUTHORITY AND EXPERTISE WILL BE INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED BY CLIENTELE; (3) THERE WILL BE BROADER COMMUNITY SANCTION AND APPROVAL OF POLICE AUTHORITY; (4) EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE WILL INCREASE; (5) AUTHORITY WILL STEM FROM FORMAL LICENSING; (6) A CODE OF ETHICS WILL EMERGE; AND (7) FORMAL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS WILL BE FORMED. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)