NCJ Number
34765
Journal
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Criminology Volume: 8 Issue: 3&4 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/DECEMBER 1975) Pages: 191-208
Date Published
1975
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE DESIGN AND USE OF A CONCEPTUAL-THEORETICAL MODEL TO STUDY POLICE RESPONSE TO ENDOGENOUSLY PRECIPATED STRESSFUL OCCURRENCES, USING POLICE STRIKES AS AN EXAMPLE.
Abstract
ALL POLICE STRIKES BETWEEN 1899 AND 1970 WERE FIRST ANALYZED TO DISCERN PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR. THE FOUR SEQUENTIAL STAGES WHICH APPEARED - THE DECISION TO STRIKE, BREAKDOWN OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL MODES OF SOCIAL CONTROL, REPLACEMENT OF THE POLICE, AND RESOLUTION OF THE STRIKE - ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL AND A PARADIGM IS CONSTRUCTED TO SERVE AS A GUIDE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL. THE DYNAMIC 'CONCEPTUAL' MODEL IS DEFINED IN TERMS OF THREE STAGES: GENERATIVE (PRE-STRIKE ACTIVITIES), PERPETUATION (THE ACTUAL STRIKE), AND RESOLUTION (POST-STRIKE ACTIVITIES). COUPLED WITH THIS CONCEPTUAL NOTION ARE THE CLUSTERS OF VARIABLES WHICH OPERATE IN EACH OF THE THREE STAGES AND WHICH DETERMINE THE DURATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THAT STAGE. PRESENTATION OF THIS 'THEORETICAL' MODEL AS A SET OF VARIABLES. ALLOWS FOR STUDY OF THE CAUSAL FACTORS THAT INITIATED THE STRIKE, THE MANNER IN WHICH THE STRIKE PROCEEDS, THE STEPS THAT WERE TAKEN TO AVERT OR END THE STRIKE, HOW SUCCESSFUL THOSE REMEDIAL MEASURES WERE, AND WHAT THE RELATIVE TIMES INVOLVED WERE. THIS 'ORDERING' OF EVENTS SERVES AS AN AID IN UNDERSTANDING THE PHENOMENON UNDER STUDY, A PREDICTION DEVICE, AND A MEANS OF FORMULATING VIABLE WORKING POLICY.