NCJ Number
59883
Date Published
1975
Length
8 pages
Annotation
POLICE AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS INVOLVED IN COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS MAY AVOID SOME UNNECESSARY DIFFICULTIES IF BOTH REALIZE THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN A POLITICAL PROCESS WITH COMPETING AND OVERLAPPING VALUES.
Abstract
BOTH POLICE AND POLITICAL SCIENTISTS ARE INTERESTED IN POWER, FINANCIAL BENEFITS, AND RECOGNITION FROM PERSONS BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THEIR PROFESSION. THE DESIRE FOR ADVANCEMENT COMMON TO BOTH IS ACHIEVED IN DIFFERING WAYS. FOR THE POLICE, AN ADVERSE STUDY FINDING MAY HINDER PROMOTION; PUBLICATION OF THE FINDING, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS ESSENTIAL TO ADVANCEMENT FOR THE SCHOLAR. THE FINANCIAL BENEFITS WHICH FLOW FROM GRANTS ACCRUE MOSTLY TO THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. THIS IS ANOTHER SOURCE OF CONFLICT. FINALLY, RECOGNITION COMES TO BOTH IN DIFFERING WAYS. POLICE OFTEN CHERISH THE RESPECT AND CONTACTS OF THE ACADEMIC WORLD AND SOCIAL SCIENTISTS ARE AWARE OF THEIR IVORY TOWER IMAGE AND RELISH ACCEPTANCE BY THOSE IN THE 'REAL WORLD.' BOTH SIDES MUST REALIZE THAT THE OTHER SIDE HAS GOALS AND SOME MUTUAL ADVANTAGE MUST BE FOUND. WAYS TO BRING PRESTIGE TO THE DEPARTMENT DESPITE AN ADVERSE FINDING SHOULD BE SOUGHT. FINANCIAL REWARDS IN TERMS OF NEW EQUIPMENT OR BETTER OPERATIONS SHOULD FLOW TO THE POLICE. POLICE MUST BECOME MORE TOLERANT OF THE SOCIAL SCIENTISTS' DESIRE TO HANDLE MATTERS THROUGH DISCUSSION WHILE THE ACADEMIC MUST UNDERSTAND WHY IN A HIERARCHIAL POLICE SYSTEM A DECISION RENDERED BY FIAT IS QUITE ACCEPTABLE. 'PAYOFFS' TO ONE SIDE OR ANOTHER MAY BE DEFERRED. THE SOCIAL SCIENTIST MAY GIVE FREE ADVICE IN THE HOPES OF A SUSTAINED COLLABORATION LATER. WHATEVER THE ARRANGEMENT, THERE MUST BE BENEFITS TO BOTH SIDES IF THE POLITICAL PROCESS OF COLLABORATION IS TO SUCCEED. A REFERENCE IS APPENDED. (GLR)