NCJ Number
114090
Date Published
1986
Length
68 pages
Annotation
This study uses a literature review, trend analysis, and data from police and citizen questionnaires to examine present and future police services.
Abstract
In general, police and citizens were in agreement about the major tasks police currently perform in such areas as evidence collection, patrol, traffic enforcement and investigation, and misdemeanor reports. Both groups felt that factors such as technological developments, unemployment, civilianization, and funding would have the greatest impact on policing in the next century. However, the two groups differed significantly in their future expectations of police services. Regular officers felt that many services now provided by uniformed officers will be transferred to civilians or other groups and organizations, while civilians expected and were willing to pay for increased police services. On the basis of the study, a scenario of the typical police department in the year 2000 is developed. Top management will have to be very flexible, and chief executive officers will be progressive people managers. Many middle management positions will be held by civilians in such areas as training, records, dispatch, parking enforcement, and other support functions. Increasingly higher salaries, better benefits, and early retirement of sworn personnel will result in decreasing reliance on sworn officers, who will be utilized only for in-progress types of calls and other duties that absolutely require sworn personnel. Civilians will take reports, and be responsible for traffic law enforcement and other police services. Other police functions will be taken over by private security, volunteers, and municipal agencies. 6 footnotes, figures, and 13 references.