NEW CONCEPTS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT (FROM POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS - SELECTED READINGS - 2ND ED, 1978, BY PAUL F CROMWALL, JR AND GEORGE KEEFER - SEE NCJ-47600)

• NCJ Number: 47615
• Author(s): C H MILTON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: West Publishing Co
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINTED FROM PUBLIC MANAGEMENT (JULY 1974)

Annotation

BRIEF SUMMARIES OF PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH IN INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO CRIME PREVENTION AND POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE PRESENTED.

Abstract

A KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, POLICE STUDY COMPARED CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH POLICE PROTECTION IN THREE AREAS OF THE CITY: ONE AREA HAD ALL POLICE SERVICES BUT NO PREVENTIVE PATROLS; IN THE OTHER, PREVENTIVE PATROL WAS INCREASED FOUR TIMES ABOVE PREEXPERIMENT CONDITIONS; AND, IN THE THIRD, NO CHANGE IN THE FREQUENCY OF PREVENTIVE PATROL WAS MADE. IT WAS FOUND THAT PATROLS APPEAR TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON CITIZEN SATISFACTION; CONSEQUENTLY, OTHER COMMUNITY-POLICE RELATIONS ALTERNATIVES ARE BEING EXPLORED. THESE INCLUDE CITIZEN-POLICE TASK FORCES AND A NEIGHBORHOOD-DISPUTES ARBITRATION UNIT. IN A DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA STUDY, COMMUNITY SATISFACTION WAS USED AS AN INDICATOR OF PERFORMANCE IN A COMPARISON OF MALE AND FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS. FINDINGS INDICATED THAT CITIZENS WERE MORE RECEPTIVE AND FAVORABLY DISPOSED TOWARD WOMEN PATROL OFFICERS THAN WERE MOST OF THE POLICEMEN. IN BOTH OF THESE STUDIES, POLLS OF CITIZEN ATTITUDES WERE USED TO GAUGE COMMUNITY SATISFACTION AND EFFECTIVENESS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MORE TRADITIONAL IN-HOUSE MEASURES SUCH AS CRIME RATES AND RESPONSE TIMES. THE ACTIVE USE OF PATROL OFFICERS IN COMMUNITY RELATIONS WORK IS A TREND THAT HAS TAKEN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FORMS. IN VENICE CALIF., PATROL OFFICERS MEET FREQUENTLY WITH AREA RESIDENTS TO DISCUSS METHODS OF CRIME PREVENTION. TWO OTHER CALIFORNIA CITIES HAVE ASSIGNED POLICE OFFICERS TO PART-TIME WORK WITH CITY PLANNERS IN CRIME PREVENTION DESIGNING. IN DAYTON OHIO, OFFICERS MEET WITH CITIZENS TO FORMULATE POLICE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS IN SUCH AREAS AS FAMILY DISPUTES, TRAFFIC CONROL, AND FIELD INVESTIGATION. A REVIEW OF FAMILY DISTURBANCE RECORDS IN KANSAS CITY INDICATED A HIGH PROPORTION OF REPEAT OFFENDERS AND LED TO THE CREATION OF FAMILY CRISIS TRAINING PROGRAMS AND REFERRAL SERVICES. IN ROCHESTER, (N.Y.), PATROL OFFICERS ARE BEING USE TO PERFORM PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIVE DUTIES AND TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS IN DEALING WITH CALLS IN CASES OF BURGLARY. INNOVATIONS LIKE THESE SUGGEST THAT IMPROVED POLICE SERVICE REQUIRES THE USE OF MANPOWER RESOURCES IN WAYS WHICH TRULY RESPOND TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. THESE PROGRAMS ALSO SUGGEST THE NEED FOR A STRONG INTERNAL PLANNING CAPACITY AND STRONG ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT IF INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS ARE TO SUCCEED. (JAP)