POLICE PATROL - SOME FUTURE DIRECTIONS (FROM FUTURE OF POLICING, 1978, BY ALVIN W COHN - SEE NCJ-51338)

• NCJ Number: 51343
• Author(s): G L KELLING; D FOGEL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 31 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EMPIRICAL RESEARCH INTO POLICE PATROL IS REVIEWED TO ASCERTAIN COMMON THEMES AND DIRECTIONS AND TO EXAMINE IMPLICATIONS THESE THEMES HAVE FOR FUTURE PATROL STRATEGIES, RESEARCH, AND EXPERIMENTATION.

Abstract

THE GOALS OF POLICE PATROL ARE TO PREVENT CRIME, MAINTAIN PUBLIC ORDER, PROVIDE PUBLIC SERVICES, AND SUPPRESS CRIME THROUGH THE APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS. IN THE PAST THESE FUNCTIONS WERE FILLED BY THE FOOT OFFICER USING TWO-WAY RADIOS OR CALL BOXES. CURRENT POLICE PATROL IN THE UNITED STATES IS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLES THAT POLICE OMNIPRESENCE IN THE COMMUNITY PREVENTS CRIME AND INSURES RAPID RESPONSE TO SERVICE CALLS. VEHICULAR PATROLS CRUISE MATHEMATICALLY DEVISED BEATS AND USE COMPUTER SYSTEMS FOR IMMEDIATE DISPACTCHING. THIS MODEL HAS BEEN CRITICIZED DUE TO OVEREMPHASIS ON POLICE CRIME-RELATED FUNCTIONS AT THE EXPENSE OF PUBLIC-SERVICE FUNCTIONS AND BECAUSE IT HARMS THE QUALITY OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, ESPECIALLY WITH MINORITY GROUPS. THE VALUE OF PREVENTIVE PATROL HAS ITSELF COME INTO QUESTION; EMPIRICAL STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THE EFFECT TO BE LIMITED OR NEGLIGIBLE, AND THAT RESPONSE TIME HAS NO EFFECT ON THE APPREHENSION OF ROBBERS AND IS NOT A CRITICAL VARIABLE IN DETERMINING CITIZEN SATISFACTION. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THESE STRATEGIES FAIL DUE TO COMMUNITY ALIENATION AND LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, CRIMINAL IDENTITY, AND THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL ACTION OCCURRING IN A COMMUNITY. THE INABILITY OF OFFICERS TO ENLIST CITIZEN ASSISTANCE AND POLICE MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT CRIME AND VICTIMS IS ALSO BLAMED. SEVERAL CITIES HAVE RETURNED TO THE USE OF FOOT PATROL. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH SUPPORTING THE FOOT PATROL STRATEGY IS SUMMARIZED. FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE POLICE PATROL INCLUDE VERY SLOW AND DELIBERATE PATROL AT NIGHT, PROVISION OF CRIME DATA ANALYSIS TO PATROL UNITS RATHER THAN TO TACTICAL UNITS, INCREASED FIELD INTERROGATIONS, BETTER INFORMATION FOR PATROL OFFICERS REGARDING THE SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND INITIAL CASE SCREENING. IMPROVED ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS ALSO NEEDED. BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)