NCJ Number
155327
Date Published
1994
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This document describes some of the issues facing Massachusetts law enforcement agencies, as well as the kinds of policies needed to bring law enforcement in the State into the 21st Century.
Abstract
The first section describes serious crime trends in Massachusetts, focusing on homicide, other index crimes, and domestic violence. Over the past 10 to 15 years, many police departments in Massachusetts have experienced declining levels of personnel; this section describes those trends in terms of department size, budget increases and decreases, and training reductions. This report discusses how police departments in the State have been affected by growing rates of drug abuse and domestic violence, and by changes in the enforcement of drunk- driving laws. To meet the challenges explored here, many police departments are experimenting with a wide range of policing methods lying within the parameters of community policing. Stressing quality police services and greater accountability to the community, community policing relies on a cooperative relationship between citizens and police in dealing with problems of crime, fear, and urban decay. Some recommendations offered in this report include undertaking a comprehensive review of future levels of law enforcement personnel needed to ensure public safety, evaluating the quality and relevance of currently available training programs, analyzing the benefits of regionalized police services, and developing a centralized mechanism to provide information and advice to departments interested in establishing community policing programs. 5 tables