NCJ Number
57870
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1979)
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
BASIC PROBLEMS LIMITING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICE ARE IDENTIFIED AND SOLUTIONS ARE SUGGESTED IN A SURVEY OF THE STATE OF POLICING IN THE UNITED STATES.
Abstract
FOUR PROBLEMS ARE DISCUSSED: (1) THE LACK OF COORDINATION AMONG THE MULTITUDE OF POLICE AGENCIES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, (2) THE LACK OF MEANINGFUL STANDARDS TO GOVERN POLICE PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, (3) THE INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF POLICE LEADERS, AND (4) THE ABSENCE OF POLICY GUIDANCE FOR POLICE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE INTERRELATED. THEY ARE ALSO STRUCTURAL IN THE SENSE THAT THEY HAVE TO DO WITH RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN POLICE AGENCIES, AMONG POLICE AGENCIES, AND BETWEEN POLICE AND THE CITIZENS THEY SERVE. THERE IS A NEED TO ADDRESS BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT SOCIETY WANTS THE POLICE TO DO AND WHAT AUTHORITY THE POLICE NEED TO CARRY OUT SOCIETY'S WISHES. THESE QUESTIONS MUST BE ANSWERED IN TERMS THAT FACE REALISTICALLY THE RISKS INHERENT IN BOTH POLICE ACTION AND POLICE INACTION. IT MUST ALSO BE DETERMINED WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE--CONSISTENT WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF OF FEDERAL STRUCTURE--TO COORDINATE LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN A WAY THAT WILL REDUCE COSTLY OVERLAPS AND INEFFICIENCIES, AND TO ESTABLISH AND ENFORCE STANDARDS THAT WILL PROMOTE POLICE SERVICE OF UNIFORMLY HIGH QUALITY. PERHAPS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT TASK FACING THE POLICE PROFESSION IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLICE EXECUTIVES WHO UNDERSTAND AND HONOR SOCIAL CHOICES ABOUT THE LIMITS OF THE POLICE FUNCTION AND OPERATE CREATIVELY WITHIN THOSE LIMITS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)