NCJ Number
39859
Date Published
1977
Length
430 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE HAVE CLAIMED TO PREVENT, CONTROL, DETER, AND PUNISH CRIME, AND HAVE MET THAT ABOVE ALL THEIR LEGITIMATING THEME.
Abstract
HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT CONTROL CRIME DUE TO STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS UPON POLICING WHICH FLOW FROM THE LIMITS THE POLICE MUST FACE WITH REGARD TO THEIR ACCESS TO CRIME-RELEVANT INFORMATION, THEIR DEPENDENCY UPON THE PUBLIC FOR COOPERATION, THE LIMITATIONS UPON THEIR ACCESS TO PRIVATE PLACES AND PERSONAL MATTERS, THE COVERT NATURE OF MUCH CRIME, AND THE COOPERATIVE CHARACTER OF 'VICTIMLESS' CRIMES. THEREFORE, THEIR CLAIMS ARE BASED ON FALSE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THEIR LEGITIMATION RESTS ON BELIEFS DERIVED FROM INADEQUATE OR CONTROLLED INFORMATION. THIS PRETENTIOUS POLICE CLAIM, IN TURN, LIMITS THEM IN THEIR QUEST FOR PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE, FOR INSOFAR AS THE PUBLIC BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS OF THE POLICE AS A CRIME-FIGHTING AGENCY, THE POLICE WILL HAVE CLOSED OFF ALTERNATIVE VIEWS OF THEIR WORK. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FOCUSING PUBLIC ATTENTION UPON AN ACTIVITY WHICH CAN BE SEEN AS AN EXPLOSIVE AND SELF-DEFEATING ENTERPRISE. THE TEN ESSAYS IN THIS BOOK EXPLORE THESE 'DRAMATIC DILEMMAS,' PRESENTING AN OUTLINE OF THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF POLICE WORK AND THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES AND TENETS WHICH ORGANIZE PUBLIC CONDUCT. A 22-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)....ELW