NCJ Number
58192
Date Published
1979
Length
317 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK ANALYZES THE LITERATURE AND CASE HISTORIES ON, AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF, POLICE AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS; IT SETS FORTH RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THESE RELATIONS.
Abstract
POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IN THE 1970'S ARE DISTINGUISHED BY GROWING CONTEMPT, VIOLENCE, AND HATE TOWARD THE POLICE. THIS VOLUME IS DIRECTED AT IMPROVING THESE RELATIONS BY EXAMINING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES, AND POLICE; EXPLORING OPTIONS IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS; DESCRIBING EXISTING ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND THE PROCESSES INVOLVED; IDENTIFYING VARIABLES REGARDING LEGITIMITATION OF POLICING COMMUNITY RELATIONS; AND SPECIFYING METHODS OF EVALUATING POLICE COMMUNITY-RELATIONS PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGING COMMUNICATION SKILLS BETWEEN THESE FACTIONS. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE FIRST APPROACHED WITH A REVIEW OF ANALYTICAL METHODS AND HOW TO USE THEM, AND PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATION MODELS FOR PRACTITIONERS. THEN THE PSYCHOSOCIAL CONTEXT IS EXPLORED, AND THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND MONITORING PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED. SPECIALIZED WAYS IN WHICH COMMUNITY RELATIONS HAVE BEEN HANDLED WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE DISCUSSED AS EXAMPLES OF WHAT MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT BE EFFECTIVE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THERE IS BUT ONE BASIC MEASURE OF POLICE EFFECTIVENESS--SATISFACTION OF THE PUBLIC WITH THEIR POLICING ARRANGEMENTS. IF THIS LEVEL OF SATISFACTION IS NOT HIGH, NORM DEVIATION WILL ACQUIRE EVER GREATER ACCEPTANCE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH CONSEQUENT INTERNAL STRIFE AND POLARIZATION AND A STEADILY DECREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICING ARRANGEMENTS. ALTHOUGH THE IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES OF THE LAST TWO DECADES (TWO-WAY RADIOS, CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION) HAVE NOT BEEN USED IN WAYS THAT IMPROVE RELATIONS, A RISING AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR POLICE-COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION IS EVIDENT IN THE SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, AND IN THE RESEARCH BEING CONDUCTED BY COMMUNITIES AND POLICE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SERIOUS RESEARCH TECHNIQUES BE USED TO IMPROVE AND ENCOURAGE PROGRAMS FOR BETTERING POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS. APPENDIXES, NOTES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (MHP)