NCJ Number
13300
Date Published
1973
Length
85 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF A PLAN TO RADICALLY ALTER THE POLICE FUNCTION FROM A 'SERVICE' ORIENTATION TO A CRIME PREVENTION ORIENTATION.
Abstract
OVER FORTY YEARS AGO, PRESIDENT HOOVER'S WICKERSHAM COMMISSION OUTLINED SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE WAY POLICE DEPARTMENTS FUNCTIONED AND WERE MANAGED. MORE RECENTLY, PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S CRIME COMMISSION AND THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS NOTED THAT THE SAME BASIC PROBLEMS CONTINUED TO EFFECT THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THIS BOOK DESCRIBES A MUNICIPAL POLICE ORGANIZATION WHOSE FUNCTION IS SHARPLY LIMITED TO THE CONTROL OF CRIME AND MINOR SOCIAL DISORDERS. AN OFFENSIVE STRATEGY, PERMITTING THE POLICE TO EXPAND THE NUMBER OF TACTICS THEY CAN REALISTICALLY EMPLOY, IS PROPOSED TO MEET THESE GOALS. THIS NEW THRUST, ARGUES THE AUTHOR, WILL ADD EFFICIENCY AND BOLSTER THE WAR AGAINST CRIME - TWO ASPECTS OF POLICING THAT HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY STUDY GROUPS AND COMMISSIONS IN THE PAST. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES MASSIVE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN INTELLIGENCE. HE CONTENDS THAT SINCE THE FUNCTION OF THE POLICE IN AMERICA IS HELPING THE PEOPLE POLICE THEMSELVES, AND IF EFFECTIVE SOCIAL CONTROL IS TO BE MAINTAINED, THE MAJOR BURDEN OF IMPLEMENTING THIS CONTROL MUST REMAIN WITH THE PEOPLE. THE STUDY STRESSES THAT THE PERSONNEL USED TO IMPLEMENT THIS STRATEGY BE COLLEGE TRAINED - THAT THEY HAVE ATTENDED COLLEGE TO LEARN TO BE POLICEMEN. THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE OPERATIONAL MODE OF THE POLICE WOULD REQUIRE MAJOR CHANGES IN MANAGERIAL PHILOSOPHY. A 'MUST' IS THE ELIMINATION OF THE PARAMILITARY SYNDROME FROM POLICE ORGANIZATIONS. THE FINAL CHAPTER PRESENTS A PLAN FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROPOSED CHANGES. (SNI ABSTRACT)