PUBLIC DRUNK - FORMALIZING THE POLICE ROLE AS A SOCIAL HELP AGENCY

• NCJ Number: 2071
• Journal: Georgetown Law Journal Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1970)
• Author(s): R Nimmer
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 27 pages
• Corporate Author: Georgetown University
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC DRUNK IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POLICE WHO OFTEN DO NOT PUNISH THE INEBRIATE BUT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS WELFARE INSTEAD.

Abstract

POLICE AUTHORITY IS DIFFICULT TO CONTEND WITH DUE TO A MISINTERPRETATION OF THE HAGAN ACT CAUSED BY THE CONFUSION DEVELOPED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE EASTER DECISION. THE ALLEVIATION OF THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES AN AFFIRMATIVE EFFORT BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND/OR THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO DESCRIBE THE SCOPE OF POLICE AUTHORITY TO THE INDIVIDUAL PATROLMAN. ALTHOUGH IT MIGHT APPEAR PRESUMPTUOUS OF THE POLICE TO INSERT THEIR OWN NOTIONS OF HOW THE INEBRIATES SHOULD BEST BE TREATED, ONE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF NO SUCH ATTITUDES HAD DEVELOPED, GIVEN THE MANY YEARS OF CONTACT WITH THESE MEN DURING A TIME WHEN THE POLICE WERE THE ONLY AGENCY PROVIDING ANY FORM OF CARE ON A VOLUME BASIS. TO EXPECT THAT THE PATROLMEN WOULD ACCEPT A NEW SET OF VALUES IMPOSED FROM WITHOUT, WITHOUT EDUCATION AS TO ITS BENEFITS, WOULD BE NAIVE. NO ATTEMPT HAS YET BEEN MADE, TO INTRODUCE THE POLICE TO THE BENEFITS OF THE NEW SYSTEM OR TO INSTRUCT THEM AS TO THEIR CRITICAL ROLE WITHIN IT. (JOURNAL ABSTRACT)