NCJ Number
40518
Date Published
1977
Length
371 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY ADDRESSES THE LONG-NEGLECTED PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE BASIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY THAT MUST BE CONSIDERED TO IMPROVE THE CAPABILITY OF THE POLICE TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES.
Abstract
PROMOTED ARE A MORE INTENSIVE CONSIDERATION OF THESE PROBLEMS AND A SUBSEQUENT ALIGNMENT OF PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS, LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, AND POLICE CAPABILITIES IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE POLICE TO PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNED TASKS MORE EFFECTIVELY. SUBJECTS EXPLORED BY THE AUTHOR INCLUDE THE WORK OF POLICE, THE MULTIPLICITY OF THEIR FUNCTIONS, AND USES THEY MAKE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. HE DISCUSSES ALTERNATIVES TO THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND FOCUSES ON THE SINGULARLY IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF DISCRETION THAT MUST BE EXERCISED THROUGHOUT THE POLICE ORGANIZATION. FURTHER EXAMINED ARE THE SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT ARISE IN DIRECTING AND CONTROLLING POLICE CONDUCT. BY MEASURING HISTORICAL CHANGES IN POLICE PRACTICE IN TERMS OF ITS END PRODUCT - THE QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERED TO THE PUBLIC - THE AUTHOR OFFERS A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF WHAT IS PRESENTLY BEING DONE AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE THE CONTACT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL MORE EFFECTIVE AND MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. (SNI ABSTRACT)...KAP