NCJ Number
16632
Date Published
Unknown
Length
42 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES THE TYPES OF REFORM THAT ARE NECESSARY FOR THE POLICE TO INITIATE INTERNALLY BEFORE UNWELCOME REFORMS ARE IMPOSED UPON THEM BY THE PUBLIC.
Abstract
FIRST, THE POLICE SHOULD DEVELOP MORE RELIABLE INDICATORS OF THEIR PERFORMANCE THAN CRIME RATES, HIGHWAY PROBLEMS, SENSATIONAL CRIMES, ORGANIZED CRIME, VIOLENCE AND POLICE MALFEASANCE - ALL OF WHICH ARE ONLY INDIRECTLY RELATED TO POLICE PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS. SECOND, THE POLICE SHOULD DEVELOP MORE LIBERAL POLICIES TO COUNTERACT THE UNFAVORABLE PUBLIC IMPRESSION THAT THEIR TRADITIONAL CONSERVATISM HAS PERPETUATED. THIRD, THE POLICE DECISION MAKING PROCESS SHOULD BE BROUGHT OUT IN THE OPEN, ALONG WITH THE DECISIONS, THEMSELVES. NEXT, A MORE PROFESSIOANL AND ATTRACTIVE ORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MUST BE CREATED TO ENTICE THE BEST MEN TO JOIN AND TO RETAIN THEM ONCE THEY ARE SWORN. FINALLY, THE POLICE MUST BE INNOVATIVE, THAT IS, THEIR LEADERS MUST INNOVATE, ENCOURAGE INNOVATION, PERSUADE THE RANKS TO DEVISE INNOVATIONS AND TO ACCEPT INNOVATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE CONDITIONS FOR INNOVATIONS.