MYTHOLOGY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT (FROM CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, 1979, BY R G IACOVETTA AND DAE H CHANG SEE NCJ-63717)

• NCJ Number: 63727
• Author(s): D BRADEL
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Carolina Academic Press
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

POLICE MYTHS ABOUT PREVENTIVE PATROL, PRODUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT, POLICE TRAINING AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION ARE EXAMINED AND PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THIS STUDY EXAMINES POLICE MYTHS REGARDING VARIOUS ASPECTS OF POLICE ADMINISTRATION AND FINDS THE BASIS FOR MANY OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS TO BE TRADITION OR HISTORY. AMONG THE MYTHS EXAMINED ARE THE USE OF PREVENTIVE PATROL AS A CRIME DETERRENT, THE USE OF CRIME RATES AS A MEASURE OF POLICE PRODUCTIVITY, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AS THE BASIC FEATURE OF MODERN POLICE WORK, AND POLICE TRAINING BASED ON PARTICULAR MECHANICAL SKILLS OR RULES. THE STUDY ALSO BRIEFLY EXAMINES THE REASONS FOR THE LACK OF CHANGE, NOTING THE POLITICAL, INTERNAL, AND COMMUNITY PRESSURES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO INSTITUTE CHANGE EVEN THOUGH EMPIRICAL RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. THE PUBLIC'S PERCEPTION OF THE POLICE ROLE AS STRICTLY THAT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF POLICE PERFORMANCE WERE ALSO FOUND TO INHIBIT CHANGE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS IMPLEMENT SUCCESSFUL INNOVATIONS SUCH AS TEAM POLICING, WHICH PROVIDES MORE RESPONSIVENESS TO THE COMMUNITY AND MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PATROLMAN. MORE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IS NEEDED AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO APPLY THIS RESEARCH IN A PRACTICAL WAY. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)