NCJ Number
193359
Date Published
2002
Length
29 pages
Annotation
In this chapter, the changes in the legal environment are examined in relation to how the police respond to these changes in the law with specific coverage given to changes in the due process revolution, domestic violence, the war on drugs, and enhanced accountability.
Abstract
The police define their role in society as crime fighters, endowed with special powers and answerable only to their own. Whenever change occurs, it occurs slowly after the police have attempted to prevent or postpone the change. However, once the change becomes rooted, the police respond in a professional manner accepting it into practice. It became important to understand that the police respond to changes in the legal environment slowly. In addition, those fostering change in police activities through changes in the law need to know that formal policy changes are just the first step. In establishing or changing a policy, there is an organizational response to the issues of training, supervision, monitoring, and evaluation. There are four types of changes in the legal environment requiring police agencies to adapt: (1) radical redefinition of the substantive criminal law or a shift in the political climate; (2) widespread procedural law changes at the national or State level; (3) lesser and incremental procedural law changes refining established powers and limitations; and (4) the impact of civil judgments. This chapter reviewed and discussed several areas of procedural changes that included: (1) due process; (2) domestic violence; (3) the war on drugs; and (4) enhanced accountability. References