NCJ Number
115950
Date Published
1989
Length
11 pages
Annotation
The relationship between neighborhoods and police that is central to the concept of community policing rests upon three aspects of neighborhoods: the neighborhood as polity, the ability of a neighborhood to defend itself, and alternate visions of the role of the police in neighborhoods.
Abstract
Although, at a minimum, residents of a neighborhood recognize their proximity and signal this recognition to each other, the intensity of neighboring relationships depends on several factors including geographical and physical characteristics, ethnic and kinship networks, and affective attachment of residents to the area. Periodicity can characterize both the intensity and content of neighboring. The influence of neighborhoods in American society has declined as a result of the centralization of government, professionalization of social services, urban renewal policies, and other changes. This article points out six factors that can contribute to the defense of a neighborhood against crime: individual citizens in association with police and criminal justice agencies; individual citizens acting alone; private groups; formal private organizations; commercial firms; and public criminal justice agencies. In communities, police are called upon to defend law and order as well as other values including the distribution of police services according to neighborhood need, the maintenance of police organizational integrity, and the defense of minority interests and civil rights. In community policing, the police must view their role as one of re-establishing neighboring relationships and strengthening community institutions. 44 notes