NCJ Number
78067
Date Published
1981
Length
15 pages
Annotation
A basic philosophy of proactive policing that emphasizes constructive police-community relations is presented, and aspects of police recruit training designed to impart the knowledge and skills necessary for implementing such a philosophy are described.
Abstract
Police who are schooled in human relations, who understand the nature of the community they serve, and who are made aware of the socioeconomic needs of those at high-risk of criminality are in a position to exert a constructive influence on individuals and the community at large. They can help prevent crime as well as respond to it after the fact. It is the responsibility of the police to cultivate cooperation with citizens in dealing with the conditions and behaviors that produce crime. This means also that the police and social service agencies must work together with citizens in dealing with community problems that cannot be solved by unilateral actions by law enforcement personnel. Training for this type of policing should include study of the history of the area's ethnic and cultural composition, community field experience that places the recruit in different community environments, an internship which includes working in a social service agency, and an examination of the character of minority cultures. The dynamics of counterculture movements should also be explored, along with conflict management, discretionary decisionmaking, news media relations, and social disorganization. Appended is a statement of philosophy of police department administration.