POLICE (FROM SOCIAL CONTROL FOR THE 1980'S - A HANDBOOK FOR ORDER IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY, 1978, BY JOSEPH S ROUCEK)

• NCJ Number: 59889
• Author(s): C M UNKOVIC; W R BROWN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: Greenwood Publishing Group
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN ANALYTICAL VIEW OF THE ROLE OF POLICE IN EFFECTING LAW AND ORDER CONSIDERS POLICE POWER OVER OFFENDERS, POLICE AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL, AND PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE IN SOCIETY.

Abstract

WHILE MANY INSTITUTIONS FUNCTION TO MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, THE POLICE ARE CHARGED MOST DIRECTLY WITH PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING CRIME. AS A MEANS OF EVALUATING ROLE EXPECTATIONS AND LIMITATIONS OF POLICE, IT IS USEFUL TO ANALYZE THEM AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE OF INFLUENCE WHEN INTERACTING WITH POTENTIAL OFFENDERS. POLICE AND OFFENDERS DO NOT ACT IN A VACUUM, AND COMPLEX VARIABLES AFFECT THE EXTENT TO WHICH POLICE CONTROL OFFENDERS. CYBERNETIC PROCESSES OCCUR WHEN POLICE CONFRONT OFFENDERS, INCLUDING EXTERNAL PRESSURES AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL, INCENTIVES THAT STRONGLY AFFECT BEHAVIORAL CHOICES, AND INTERNAL STATES THAT AFFECT AN INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIORAL MOTIVES. POLICE HAVE LEGITIMATE POWER TO INTERVENE IF OFFENDERS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF COMMITTING AN UNLAWFUL OR DANGEROUS ACT. THEY CAN USE THIS POWER FOR SOCIAL CONTROL OR THEY CAN ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY AND MAKE SOCIAL CONTROL MORE DIFFICULT AS THE RESULT OF AN EROSION OF THEIR SOCIAL SUPERIORITY OVER OFFENDERS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT POLICE ESTABLISH SOCIAL CONTROL VIA ACHIEVING GOOD WILL IN DEALINGS WITH OFFENDERS. AT THE SAME TIME, IT MUST BE RECOGNIZED THAT POLICE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL INCENTIVES AND SOCIAL PRESSURES WHICH CAUSE CRIME. WHEN CHANGING ROLES OF POLICE ARE EXAMINED IN LIGHT OF UPGRADED EDUCATIONAL LEVELS AND THE RECRUITMENT OF FEMALE AND MINORITY POLICE, THE FACT THAT SOCIAL CONTROL PER SE HAS ELUDED POLICE AGENCIES CAN, IN PART, BE RATIONALIZED DEPENDING ON HOW POLICE ROLES ARE DEFINED IN AN EVOLVING SOCIETY. PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE ARE COMPILED, AND THIS COMPLEXITY OFTEN MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR POLICE TO MAINTAIN A CLEAR ROLE IDENTITY. POLICE MUST REALIZE THEY HAVE A MULTIFACETED ROLE AND SHOULD BE OBJECTIVE AND FAIR IN THEIR PERFORMANCE AS SOCIAL CONTROL AGENTS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. AN INTERACTION MODEL PORTRAYING THE ROLE OF POLICE AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CONTROL IS PRESENTED, AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)