NCJ Number
59881
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS CAN EACH HELP THE OTHER COPE WITH THE IMPLICATIONS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, BUT THEY MUST WORK TOGETHER ON AN EQUAL BASIS IF EACH IS TO BENEFIT FROM THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE OTHER.
Abstract
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE STRUGGLING TO COPE WITH RISING CRIME RATES AND INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES BROUGHT ABOUT BY TREMENDOUS SOCIAL CHANGES. SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ARE STUDENTS OF SOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND COULD HELP POLICE UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEMS BESETTING THEM. HOWEVER, RESEARCHERS TOO ARE BESET BY NEW DEMANDS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE DEMAND THAT THEY EXTEND THEIR STUDIES BEYOND THE LABORATORY TO LIVING SYSTEMS. AS RESEARCH IS STRUCTURED NOW, THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST DESIGNS THE PROJECT AND THE POLICE AGENCY MERELY COOPERATES WITH THE DATA GATHERING. FUNDING SOURCES SHOULD BE WILLING TO GAMBLE ON A WELL-WRITTEN CONCEPT, AND THE POLICE ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE DESIGN OF STUDIES. EXPERTS HAVE THREE POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO SEEK HELP: (1) THEY CAN DO SOMETHING TO THE PERSON; (2) THEY CAN DO SOMETHING FOR THE PERSON; OR (3) THEY CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THE PERSON. THE BEST RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND POLICE IS A WORKING 'WITH' EACH OTHER. ONLY IN THIS WAY WILL MEANINGFUL AND BENEFICIAL COLLABORATION BE ACHIEVED. (GLR)