FROM A SERVICE TO A LEGALISTIC STYLE POLICE DEPARTMENT A CASE STUDY

• NCJ Number: 38094
• Journal: Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 302-319
• Author(s): T N FERDINAND
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police; Northwestern University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

COMPREHENSIVE DATA ON THE ORGANIZATION AND ARREST RATES OF THE ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE YEARS 1878 TO THE PRESENT ARE EXAMINED IN THIS STUDY OF THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN POLICE.

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS STUDY WAS TO EXPLAIN THE CHANGES THAT OCCURRED IN THE ROCKFORD POLICE OVER A PERIOD OF NEARLY A CENTURY IN TERMS OF ITS CHANGING ORGANIZATION AND THE MATURATION OF ITS SOCIOPOLITICAL CONTEXT. TWO PRIMARY STYLES OF POLICING ARE DESCRIBED: SERVICE AND LEGALISTIC. 'SERVICE' POLICING IS CHARACTERIZED BY CLOSE RELATIONS WITH THE COMMUNITY, LOOSE INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND INFORMAL TREATMENT OF MANY TYPES OF CRIMES. THE LEGALISTIC DEPARTMENT, ON THE OTHER HAND, ADHERES TO THE LETTER OF THE LAW IN CRIME FIGHTING, HAS A HIGH DEGREE OF ORGANIZATION AND SPECIALIZATION, AND IS RELATIVELY UNSWAYED BY LOCAL SENSIBILITIES WHEN THESE CONFLICT WITH THE LAW. AFTER BRIEFLY DESCRIBING THE HISTORY OF THE ROCKFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT AND PRESENTING LONG-TERM STATISTICS ON OFFENSES, VIOLENT CRIME, VICE AND PETTY CRIME, POLICE ARRESTS, THE POLICE BUDGET, AND POLICE PERSONNEL, THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE ROCKFORD POLICE PERSONNEL. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE ROCKFORD POLICE TO A LEGALISTIC STYLE OF ORGANIZATION. HE ATTRIBUTES THESE CHANGES IN POLICE STYLE TO A CHANGING CRIME PROBLEM, AN INCREASINGLY BUREAUCRATIZED DEPARTMENT, AND CIVIC DEMANDS FOR A MODERN, EFFECTIVE DEPARTMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)