REGULATION OF PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES, INCLUDING A MODEL PRIVATE SECURITY LICENSING AND REGULATORY STATUTE

• NCJ Number: 36709
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 77 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT BY THE PRIVATE SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL BRIEFLY REVIEWS THE STATUS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY AND PRESENTS THE TEXT AND AN ANALYSIS OF A MODEL STATUTE TO BE ADOPTED AT THE STATE LEVEL.

Abstract

STARTLING CRIME INCREASES THROUGHOUT THE PAST DECADE HAVE OVERLOADED THE NATION'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. THE GENERAL PUBLIC, AS WELL AS BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, HAVE TURNED INCREASINGLY TO PRIVATE SECURITY AS A DEFENSE AGAINST CRIME. THE RESULTING SPECTACULAR GROWTH OF PRIVATE SECURITY HAS RAISED SERIOUS QUESTIONS ON THE TRAINING, SELECTION, SCREENING, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF PRIVATE SECURITY PERSONNEL. THE PRIVATE SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION, WAS ESTABLISHED TO EXAMINE THE CURRENT ROLE OF PRIVATE SECURITY IN CRIME PREVENTION AND IN THE APPREHENSION OF PERSON COMMITTING CRIMINAL ACTS AND TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO APPROACHES FOR IMPROVING ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN THESE TASKS. THE COUNCIL UNDERTOOK A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE BARRIERS TO MORE EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION BY PRIVATE SECURITY IN THE NATIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE CRIME. THE COUNCIL'S STUDY INDICATED THAT INCREASED LEVELS OF INTEGRITY, COMPETENCY, AND PERFORMANCE BY PRIVATE SECURITY PERSONNEL COULD BE ACHIEVED BY IMPROVED SCREENING AND SELECTION TECHNIQUES IN THE HIRING OF ALL PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS, MANDATORY FIREARMS TRAINING FOR ARMED PERSONNEL, AND CLOSE REGULATION OF EQUIPMENT, APPEARANCE, AND OPERATIONS. TO ENCOURAGE ACCEPTANCE OF CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS, THE PRIVATE SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL DEVELOPED A MODEL LICENSING AND REGULATORY STATUTE DESIGNED TO BE ADOPTED AT THE STATE LEVEL. THIS STATUTE IS PRESENTED ALONG WITH A REVIEW OF THE STATUS OF PRIVATE SECURITY SERVICES, A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL, AND A SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODEL STATUTE. THE COUNCIL RECOGNIZED AND PROVIDED REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN CRIME PREVENTION; THE RIGHTS OF ORDINARY CITIZENS TO BE PROTECTED FROM WRONGS AND INVASIONS OF THEIR PRIVACY BY ILL-TRAINED, UNREGULATED PERSONS FUNCTIONING AS PRIVATE SECURITY PERSONNEL; AND THE RIGHTS OF PRIVATE SECURITY PERSONNEL TO PURSUE AN OCCUPATION OF THEIR CHOOSING WITHOUT UNREASONABLE RESTRAINT. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE STATUTE CALL FOR UNIFORM PROCEDURES AND QUALIFICATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE FOR: LICENSING OF COMPANIES PROVIDING CERTAIN SECURITY SERVICES; REGISTRATION OF ALL ARMED PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN THE STATE; ESTABLISHING TRAINING STANDARDS FOR ARMED PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS; REQUIRING PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYERS OF ARMED PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS; REQUIRING CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECKS ON ALL PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS; AND RESTRICTING THE HIRING OF CERTAIN PERSONS AS PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS. THERE IS AN INDEX TO THE STATUTE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)