NCJ Number
59734
Date Published
1979
Length
107 pages
Annotation
POLICE ISSUES AND PRACTICES ARE EXAMINED IN A VOLUME DIRECTED TO POLICE, LEGISLATORS, ATTORNEYS, JUDGES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
Abstract
THE TEXT EXPRESSES THE PERSONAL VIEWS OF THE AUTHORS, WHOSE BACKGROUNDS INCLUDE ACTIVE POLICE DUTY, EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND CONSULTATION. THE PARADOX OF CRIME--THAT THE PUBLIC EXPECTS TO WIN A 'WAR ON CRIME' AND YET IS WILLING TO TOLERATE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY--IS POINTED OUT. ONE THEME OF THE BOOK IS THAT POLICE SHOULD VIEW CRIME AS NORMAL ACTIVITY AND SHIFT THEIR PHILOSOPHY AND ROLE PERCEPTIONS ACCORDINGLY. PRINCIPLES THAT COULD SERVE AS BEHAVIORAL OBJECTIVES FOR POLICE ARE NOTED. STATISTICS INDICATIVE OF THE SCOPE OF THE CRIME PROBLEM AND OF THE NEED FOR POLICE ARE CITED. THE EVOLUTION OF POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION OF POLICE AGENCIES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. A SURVEY OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR POLICE INCLUDES DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE PROGRAM AT THE RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE DISTRICT (CALIFORNIA), A BACHELOR'S PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA, A MASTER'S PROGRAM AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, A DOCTORAL PROGRAM AT SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY (TEXAS), AND CALIFORNIA'S BASIC AND INSERVICE TRAINING PROGRAMS. THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS ARE OFFERED: CONSOLIDATING AGENCIES, REDUCING THE NUMBER OF POLICE STAFF FUNCTIONS AND HIGH-RANKING ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, USING TEAM POLICING, ESTABLISHING TACTICAL ANTICRIME UNITS, INCREASING PAYMENTS TO INFORMERS, AVOIDING PARTICIPATION IN BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR OFFENDERS, ENCOURAGING FORMATION OF CITIZEN CRIME COMMISSIONS, ENHANCING CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND GAINING FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY. BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (LKM)