NCJ Number
184293
Date Published
2000
Length
626 pages
Annotation
This textbook provides an overview of the history, characteristics, organizational structure, functions, strategies, training, resources, legal restrictions, and professional issues and problems of law enforcement in the United States.
Abstract
The first chapter provides a perspective on the field of law enforcement, followed by a chapter that presents a brief history of early law enforcement in selected ancient civilizations and the advent of British and French policing. Chapter 3 focuses on the evolution of law enforcement in the United States, and Chapter 4 reviews the framework for policing in the United States. A chapter on crime in the United States considers its causes, theories, and emerging issues in crime causation, and a discussion of values in law enforcement is provided in Chapter 6. The chapter on policing roles, tasks, and styles includes sections on the organizational roles of selected positions, the debate over the police role, and stress and discretion in policing. Organizational structure is the focus of Chapter 8, as it considers organizational theory and its development, human relations theory, and modern management theory. In examining the basic functions and strategies of policing, Chapter 9 profiles patrol, criminal investigation, crime prevention, and major strategies of policing. The remaining seven chapters feature discussions of human resources in policing; training, education, and socialization of police; legal restrictions on law enforcement; technology in policing; future social problems; professional issues and problems; and future approaches and strategic planning. Each chapter contains a summary, questions for review, suggested activities, and a glossary, as well as sections on key terms used in the chapter, learning objectives, and a chapter outline. Appended copy of the U.S. Constitution and model minimum State standards of law enforcement, as well as a subject index