PROFESSIONALISM AT THE CROSSROADS - POLICE ADMINISTRATION IN THE 1980'S (FROM CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY R G IACOVETTA AND DAE H CHANG - SEE NCJ-63717)

• NCJ Number: 63728
• Author(s): S WALKER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: Carolina Academic Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES ALTERNATIVES FOR POLICE REFORM, EMPHASIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL REFORM, AND NEW MODELS THAT INCLUDE DECENTRALIZATION.

Abstract

IT BEGINS BY DEFINING PROFESSIONALISM AND TRACING THE ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONALIZATION SINCE 1900. TRADITIONAL STYLE PROFESSIONALISM, WHICH EMPHASIZES MANAGERIAL EFFICIENCY, HAS LED TO BUREAUCRATIZATION AND POLICE OFFICER ALIENATION. HOWEVER, IT HAS ALSO LED TO UNIFORMITY IN POLICE PRACTICES, A FACTOR CRUCIAL TO GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT. SOME OF THE NEW IDEAS AND APPROACHES THAT HAVE APPEARED IN RECENT YEARS INCLUDE THOSE WHICH SEEK TO DECENTRALIZE THE BUREAUCRACY IN ORDER TO INVOLVE POLICE OFFICERS IN POLICYMAKING AND BRING THE POLICE AGENCY CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY IT SERVES. EXAMPLES OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND ACTIVITIES ARE GIVEN TO ILLUSTRATE THE CHOICES IN PROFESSIONAL APPROACHES, INCLUDING THE APPROACHES OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO URBAN RACIAL VIOLENCE. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)