STATE POLICE IN A RURAL AREA

• NCJ Number: 59406
• Journal: Rural Sociology Volume: 4 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1939) Pages: 179-189
• Author(s): M E JONES
• Date Published: 1939
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Texas A&M University
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ROLE OF THE STATE POLICE IN PATROLLING RURAL AREAS OF MASSACHUSETTS IN THE 1930'S IS EXAMINED, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE NATURE OF CRIME IN THESE AREAS AND TO THE ADVANTAGES OF A CENTRALIZED POLICE FORCE.

Abstract

THE ORGANIZATION, STAFFING, PATROL METHODS, AND EQUIPMENT OF TROOP B, WHICH PATROLLED THE RURAL SECTIONS OF FOUR WESTERN COUNTIES (AND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL OFFICIALS UPON THEIR REQUEST), ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH TROOP B'S ACTIVITIES (INVESTIGATIONS, ARRESTS, COMPLAINTS, MILES TRAVELLED) FROM DECEMBER 1935 TO SEPTEMBER 1937. EXCLUSIVE OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES, THE GREATEST NUMBER OF OFFENSES DURING THIS PERIOD (51.5 PERCENT) INVOLVED DRUNKENNESS AND VAGRANCY. ALTHOUGH SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ONE-FOURTH OF ALL OFFENDERS LIVED OUTSIDE TROOP B'S FOUR-COUNTY AREA, NONRESIDENTS OF THE AREA WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF SERIOUS OFFENSES. NEARLY THREE-FIFTHS OF ALL OFFENSES WERE COMMITTED BY PERSONS WHO LIVED IN THE FOUR-COUNTY AREA BUT NOT IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE OFFENSE OCCURRED. URBAN RESIDENTS--THOSE FROM OUTSIDE THE FOUR-COUNTY AREA AND THOSE LIVING IN CITIES WITHIN THE AREA--ACCOUNTED FOR ONE-HALF OF ALL OFFENSES. THIS MEANS THAT TROOP B, IN HALF OF ALL CASES, WAS DEALING WITH OFFENDERS WHO DID NOT LIVE IN THE RURAL AREAS IT PATROLLED. IN THE ABSENCE OF THE STATE POLICE, THESE AREAS WOULD HAVE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO MUSTER THE LEVEL OF POLICE PROTECTION REQUIRED TO DEAL WITH THE INFLUX OF NONLOCAL, URBAN CRIMINALS THAT ACCOMPANIED THE ADVENT OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THROUGH CENTRALIZED AUTHORITY AND CONTROL OF PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND EQUIPMENT, THE STATE POLICE SYSTEM HANDLED THE SITUATION INEXPENSIVELY, EFFICIENTLY, AND WITHOUT JURISDICTIONAL PROBLEMS. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE STATE POLICE DEMONSTRATES THAT CENTRALIZATION CAN ENHANCE RATHER THAN THREATEN INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS AND SHOULD BE EVALUATED OBJECTIVELY. SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.