NCJ Number
2031
Date Published
1971
Length
11 pages
Annotation
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF POLICE IN CRIME REDUCTION AND ORDER MAINTENANCE WITHOUT COMMUNITY TENSIONS AND USE OF COERCION.
Abstract
THE INVESTIGATION IS FOCUSED UPON THE USE OF FORCE IN THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER. SOCIETY IS COMPARED TO A PRISON COMMUNITY WHERE FORCE ALONE CANNOT RULE. THOSE INMATE LEADERS, WHO HAVE AN IMPORTANT STAKE IN MAINTAINING A QUIET AND ORDERLY INSTITUTION, MUST BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO EXISTENCE. SIMILARLY, COOPERATION WITH AND ACCEPTANCE OF POLICE REQUIRES THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPPORTING LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, LEADERSHIP WHICH THE POLICE MAY NEITHER LIKE NOR AGREE WITH. SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND SELF CONCEPTION BY THE POLICE IS EXAMINED TO DETERMINE TO WHAT EXTENT EITHER CONTRIBUTES TO COMMUNITY TENSIONS. THE POLICE ARE ONLY ONE SMALL PART OF A LARGER SET OF RACIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE SOLVED BY COERCION, THE PROBLEM OF POLICE IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF INADEQUATE PERSONNEL, BUT INVOLVES QUESTIONS OF POLITICAL POWER AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE. REFERENCES