NCJ Number
139566
Date Published
1992
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article presents and discusses principles upon which to base the modernization of the Hungarian police under a democratic government.
Abstract
Principles for the modernization of public administration in Hungary were proposed from an April 1991 forum in Budapest that included the participation of researchers of the UNO Public Administration Development Department and the International Public Administration Institute. The conference discussed public administration modernization in the East European countries. The principles proposed apply to police modernization as well as to other institutions of public administration. One principle is that administrative reform must reflect and harmonize with the wide-ranging process of social transformation and not be limited to technological issues. In the case of social transformation to democratic values, this means that police administration and operations must reflect democratic values. Specifically, the organization must not consist of a leader who dominates and requires unquestioning obedience from subordinates. Management must derive from participation by all personnel in the development of goals, objectives, and operational styles. A second principle for modernization is the use of functional analysis of each activity so as to eliminate existing tasks that no longer have meaning or usefulness and to develop new tasks that serve the interests of public safety and public order under democratic values. Another principle is to develop personnel policy and training that complies with newly constructed organizational goals and structure. A fourth principle that should underlie modernization of police administration is the effective protection of citizens from the arbitrary use of police power and police violations of the law. 8 references