NCJ Number
47652
Date Published
1977
Length
288 pages
Annotation
SEVERAL POLICE PRACTICES WHICH AROUSE PUBLIC CRITICISM ARE EXAMINED AND ILLUSTRATED WITH EXAMPLES FROM ACTUAL POLICE EXPERIENCE.
Abstract
THE BOOK IS DESIGNED TO SHED LIGHT ON THE REASONS BEHIND CERTAIN ROUTINE POLICE PROCEDURES IN THE HOPE THAT CRITICS WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURES AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OPERATE. ANONYMOUS INFORMERS (I.E., THOSE WHO REVEAL TO THE AUTHORITIES THE EXISTENCE OF AN INFRACTION WHICH CAUSES THEM NO PERSONAL HARM) PRESENT PROBLEMS IN THAT, IF THE POLICE DO NOTHING ABOUT KNOWLEDGE GAINED IN THIS FASHION AND THE INFORMATION IS LATER DISCOVERED TO BE WELL-FOUNDED. THE POLICE WILL BE CRITICIZED FOR NOT FOLLOWING UP ALL POSSIBLE LEADS; THE OPPOSITE ALSO HOLDS TRUE IF THE POLICE WASTE VALUABLE TIME IN TRACKING DOWN A 'CRANK' REPORT. USE OF INFORMERS, OR PERSONS WHO GENERALLY WISH TO GAIN FAVOR WITH THE POLICE BY DENOUNCING CRIMINALS OR REPORTING SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES, AND PAYING ATTENTION TO CONFIDENCES AND RUMORS ALSO EXPOSE POLICE TO PUBLIC DISFAVOR. TRICKS AND TRAPS, SUCH AS SINCERE OR FALSE PROMISES TO SUSPECTS AND OFFENDERS, DECEITFUL STATEMENTS AND ATTITUDES, SURVEILLANCE AND DISGUISES, AND ELECTRONIC WIRETAPPING AND BUGGING, ARE ALL OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY PROCEDURES WHICH EXPOSE POLICE TO CRITICISM. ONE OF THE MOST COMMON ACCUSATIONS DIRECTED AT POLICE IS THAT THEY HAVE USED PRESSURE, COERCION, AND EVEN THREATS TO ELICIT INFORMATION OR ASSURE THEIR OWN PROTECTION. POLICE ARE EVEN SUSPECTED OF INCITING DISORDERS OR CRIMES IN ORDER TO THEN INTERVENE AND REPRESS THE OFFENDERS. CHARGES OF VIOLENCE IN THE STREETS, ESPECIALLY IN CONNECTION WITH DEMONSTRATIONS, AND BRUTALITY OR MISTREATMENT OF SUSPECTS TO FORCE CONFESSIONS ARE OFTEN LEVELED AT POLICE. IF POLICE ARE TO CARRY OUT THEIR MISSION OF PROTECTING THE PUBLIC, THEY MUST BE GIVEN FREE REIN TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF ALL MEANS AT THEIR DISPOSAL WITHIN REASON AND WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE LAW. CRITICISM OF THE POLICE, WHO ARE DAILY DEMORALIZED AND EXASPERATED BY SEEING OFFENDERS RELEASED AS SOON AS THEY ARE ARRESTED OR CONVICTED, IS SELF-DEFEATING AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE. IT IS STATED THAT SOCIETY MUST STOP FINDING EXCUSES AND MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO WOULD UNDERMINE IT AND BEGIN SUPPORTING THE POLICE, WHO DEFEND IT AT THE RISK OF THEIR OWN LIVES. -- IN FRENCH. (DAS)