NCJ Number
127953
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1990) Pages: 205-215
Date Published
1990
Length
11 pages
Annotation
In this article, the problems of decentralization of American police agencies are examined. The argument is made that the American system of policing is not only inefficient, but ineffective as well. Overconcern for local autonomy and the intentional fragmentation of the police system have resulted in a chaos which needs to be restructured into a logical order.
Abstract
American policing is highly decentralized and fragmented due to the burden of police services resting upon local governments. Emphasis placed upon local control and fragmented law enforcement authority results in minimal coordination among the approximately 20,000 different American law enforcement agencies. The article presents how Australia, Canada, and Great Britain have coped with providing police services to their citizenry. These countries were selected because of their emphasis on individual rights. A proposed solution provides for input at the local level, control at the State level, and uniform standards established at the national level. 30 references (Author abstract modified)