NCJ Number
104237
Date Published
1986
Length
605 pages
Annotation
This textbook on police-community relations considers the fundamentals of police-community relations, psychological and sociological aspects of police-community relations, and police-community relations programs.
Abstract
Fundamentals of police-community relations focus on the American experience and concept, the police role dilemma, the police role and professionalism, and police discretion. Psychological aspects of police-community relations include the officer's self-image; the public's image of the police; and perception, attitudes, beliefs, and values. Sociological considerations impacting police-community relations involve social processes, population trends, and the urban environment. These factors affect police-minority relations; civil disorders; complaints against the police; and police dealings with juveniles, women, domestic violence, victims, the elderly, and the handicapped. Other considerations bearing on police-community relations are police interactions with other criminal justice components, politics and crime prevention, the media, and professional ethics. The police-community relations programs discussed are divided into those used in the past, those currently used, and principles for the development of future programs. An appended listing of the policing principles of the London Metropolitan Police and a description of New York City's Community Patrol Officer Project, subject index, chapter notes, and 350-item bibliography.