NCJ Number
66037
Editor(s)
F A MEYER,
R BAKER
Date Published
1979
Length
237 pages
Annotation
THIS VOLUME ATTEMPTS TO FURTHER THE GOALS OF POLICY ANALYSIS BY EXAMINING VARIOUS DETERMINANTS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
Abstract
PART I PRESENTS AN INTRODUCTION TO VARIOUS POLICY DETERMINANTS USING A GENERAL SYSTEMS APPROACH. SUBSEQUENT CHAPTERS INVESTIGATE THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT CHARACTERISTICS AS FACTORS AFFECTING ARREST DECISIONS BY POLICE, LINKAGES BETWEEN DEPARTMENTAL AND POLICING STYLES, AND CITY COUNCILPERSON INTERVENTION IN POLICE ADMINISTRATION. A SECOND SECTION DEALS WITH THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION BY POLICE OFFICERS THROUGH EXAMINING DIVERGENCE BETWEEN PREFERRED MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND THE ACTUAL BEHAVIOR OF STREET OFFICERS AND REVIEWING OBSTACLES TO ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE. ONE PAPER RELATES LEADING PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CONTROL OF POLICE TO LEADING MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE AND NOTES THE LACK OF COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF EXPERIENCE IN THREE LEADING MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. OTHER TOPICS ARE THE RELATIONSHIP OF MORAL JUDGMENTS OF POLICE OFFICERS TO THE DECISION TO SHOOT AND THE USE OF POLICE DISCRETION IN WHITE-COLLAR CRIME. INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ARE DISCUSSED IN STUDIES OF GOVERNMENTAL FRAGMENTATION ON POLICE SERVICE DELIVERY, PROBLEMS OF POLICE BORDER SERVICES, AND THE EFFECT OF REFORM ON POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. FINALLY, TECHNOLOGICAL AND LEGAL CHANGES ARE EXAMINED WITH REFERENCE TO ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE AND APPELLATE COURT DECISIONS AND TO INNOVATION IN POLICE POLICY. TABULAR DATA, BRIEF CONTRIBUTOR BIOGRAPHIES, AND SUBJECT AND NAME INDEXES ARE GIVEN. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH CHAPTER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--AOP)