Can Police Services Be Privatized? (From Privatizing the United States Justice System: Police, Adjudication, and Corrections Services From the Private Sector, P 27-41, 1992, Gary W Bowman, Simon Hakim, et al., eds. - See NCJ-137785)

• NCJ Number: 137786
• Author(s): P E Fixler Jr; R W Poole Jr
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: McFarland & Company, Inc.
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of recent experience and issues related to the privatization of police services concludes that continuing high levels of crime and fiscal constraints on local governments make it likely that police departments will gradually turn over increasing levels of responsibility for law enforcement on private property to security organizations protecting that property.

Abstract

Policing is not a single service. Instead, police agencies perform many functions, some of which have the characteristics of private goods, some of which are toll goods, and some of which are, in varying degrees, collective goods. Thus, theoretical justification exists for some privatization of police services. Partial privatization involves user fees or the use of private contractors, while full privatization involves the private financing as well as provision of services. Many jurisdictions have traditionally charged fees for some kinds of services and contracted out support and certain auxiliary services. In addition, private security personnel have sometimes received special arrest powers. However, cultural norms, administrative concerns about control and accountability, union opposition, legal constraints, and difficulties in arranging for private individuals to arrange this kind of public service have all hampered privatization efforts. Thus, full privatization has not occurred, although limited forms of privatization are receiving increasing acceptance and are likely to increase. Charts and 45 references