NCJ Number
45941
Date Published
Unknown
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THE STANDARDS PRESENTED DEFINE THE POLICE ROLE IN OUR SOCIETY AND PROVIDE DIRECTIVES FOR POLICE RELATIONS WITH OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE COMMUNITY.
Abstract
THE STANDARDS SET FORTH IN THIS VOLUME ARE THE RESULT OF OVER 2 YEARS WORK BY THE POLICE TASK FORCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS AS WELL AS STAFF MEMBERS OF THE UTAH COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADMINISTRATION. THE STANDARDS ENCOMPASS THE POLICE FUNCTION, LIMITS OF AUTHORITY, POLICE DISCRETION, COMMUNICATING WITH THE POLICE, POLICE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR ROLE, PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE POLICE ROLE, AND NEWS MEDIA RELATIONS. IN THE STANDARD ON POLICE FUNCTION, EVERY POLICE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS URGED TO DEVELOP AND PUBLISH, IN WRITTEN FORM, POLICIES ISSUING FROM THE GOVERNING BODY THAT PROVIDES FORMAL AUTHORITY FOR THE POLICE FUNCTION, AND ALSO TO SET FORTH THE OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES THAT WILL GUIDE THE AGENCY'S DELIVERY OF POLICE SERVICES. IT IS URGED THAT EVERY CHIEF EXECUTIVE DISSEMINATE TO THE PUBLIC AND EVERY AGENCY EMPLOYEE WRITTEN POLICY REGARDING THE NATURE AND LIMITS OF POLICE AUTHORITY. FURTHER, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT EVERY POLICE AGENCY PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE BROAD RANGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL DISCRETION EXERCISED BY POLICE AGENCIES AND INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS AND INDICATE THE LIMITS OF SUCH DISCRETION. BILATERAL COMMUNICATION OF EACH POLICE AGENCY WITH THE PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED, WITH THE INTENT OF DETERMINING THE NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. THE PUBLIC SHOULD ALSO BE INFORMED OF POLICIES DEVELOPED TO IMPROVE DELIVERY OF POLICE SERVICES. THE INSTRUCTION OF EVERY OFFICER IN THE NATURE OF THE POLICE ROLE AND THE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY IN QUESTION IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. METHODS FOR EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC THE ROLE OF THE POLICE ARE INCLUDED. REGARDING NEWS MEDIA RELATIONS, IT IS DIRECTED THAT WRITTEN POLICY STATEMENTS BE ISSUED ADVOCATING REGULAR AND OPEN COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AGENCY AND THE NEWS MEDIA. METHODS FOR IMPLEMENTING EACH STANDARD ARE SUGGESTED. (RCB)