NCJ Number
62803
Date Published
1978
Length
31 pages
Annotation
CRIME PREVENTION AND DETECTION IS AIDED BY A SELF-POLICING, SELF-REGULATING SOCIETY WORKING WITH POLICE. METHODS TO ACHIEVE THIS PROACTIVE POLICING ARE OUTLINED.
Abstract
PRO-ACTIVE POLICING IS DEFINED AS A 'SELF-INITIATING' APPROACH, AND METHODS TO USE IT IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF POLICING ARE GIVEN. PROACTIVE POLICING WORKS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, HELPING THE COMMUNITY TO BECOME MORE MORAL AND SELF-REGULATING. THIS INCLUDES USING BEAT OFFICERS BEYOND A REACTIVE ROLE; EDUCATION, NOT ONLY OF OFFICERS, BUT ALSO OF THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THE PROACTIVE CONTRACT; SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL SAVINGS AS SELLING POINTS OF PROACTIVE POLICY; AND CONTINUED ATTENTION TO REGULAR POLICE DUTY WHILE ENCOURAGING PROACTIVE APPROACHES SUCH AS POLICE NIGHT SCHOOL OR A POLICE BAND CONCERT. EDUCATION IS ADMITTEDLY DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR MIDDLE-RANKING POLICE OFFICIALS WHOSE EARLIER TRAINING WAS IN STRICT LAW EFORCEMENT WITHOUT MUCH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. THE NEEDS OF JUVENILES AND HOW THEY CAN BE MET IN A PROACTIVE MANNER IS ALSO EXAMINED, AND THE TENSION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM AND THE POLICE, AND THE APATHY OF PARENTS AND TEACHERS ARE DESCRIBED. EXTENDED TO OTHER AGENCIES, THE POLICE SOCIAL INTEGRATION APPROACH IMPROVES POLICE RESPONSE AND INVESTIGATION TIME AND AIMS TO PREVENT CRIME BY ENCOURAGING TOTAL PUBLIC CONCERN. POLICE INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP CAN BE USED IN ADVISORY COMITTEES, SCHOOLS AND YOUTH CLUBS, URBAN PLANNING, ROTARY AND LIONS CLUBS, CHURCHES, AND FOOTBALL CLUBS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (RFC)