NCJ Number
13399
Date Published
1974
Length
198 pages
Annotation
TEXT PRESENTING THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS THEY APPLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY.
Abstract
POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS IS WRITTEN TO MEET THE NEED TO HEAL THE WOUNDS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE PUBLIC. THIS DOCUMENT PRESENTS THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AS THEY APPLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY. FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION WHICH DISCUSSES THE EVOLVING POLICE ROLE, THE NEED FOR POSITIVE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND THE AMERICAN POLICE SYSTEM, COMMENTS ARE MADE ON OBSTACLES TO POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE THE MISUSE OF POLICE AUTHORITY, COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE, AND THE POLICE AND CIVIL DISORDERS. POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE PUBLIC ARE THEN HIGHLIGHTED, FOCUSING ON PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE, THE POLICE AND RACIAL MINORITIES, AND POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE NEWS MEDIA. ATTENTION IS ALSO GIVEN TO POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMS, CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS, YOUTH-ORIENTED PROGRAMS, AND POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS. BY DRAWING UPON THE EXPERIENCES AND INNOVATIONS OF A GREAT MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, THE AUTHOR PRESENTS A SAMPLING OF ILLUSTRATIVE AND INTERESTING IDEAS THAT BEAR ON THE SUBJECT. TO GIVE THE STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES TO APPLY HIS UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPTS PRESENTED IN THE DOCUMENT AND TO EVALUATE HIS OWN PROGRESS, A VARIETY OF MATERIAL IS OFFERED FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND REVIEW. THE REVIEW MATERIAL CONSISTS OF SEVERAL KINDS OF OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS, INCLUDING THE MULTIPLE-CHOICE TYPE OFTEN FOUND ON PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS. ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TEXT. AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE IS ALSO AVAILABLE WHICH OUTLINES THE AUTHOR'S APPROACH TO POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS FOR THE HYPOTHETICAL PROBLEM SITUATIONS, WHILE STRESSING THAT THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES WHEN DEALING WITH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONS. (SNI ABSTRACT)