NCJ Number
11267
Date Published
1973
Length
158 pages
Annotation
CASE STUDY EXAMINATION OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAM IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA AND OF PROCESSES OF INNOVATION IN PUBLIC BUREAUCRACIES.
Abstract
TO CONDUCT THIS STUDY, THE AUTHOR SPENT ONE MONTH OBSERVING BUREAU ACTIVITIES AND INTERVIEWING PERSONNEL. HE ALSO ADMINISTERED A QUESTIONNAIRE TO 40 POLICE SUPERVISORS, AND INTERVIEWED TOP POLICE OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT, AND SELECTED PERSONS IN GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE LIFE. IN CHAPTER ONE, HE DISCUSSES THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE, POLICE WORK, TRAINING AND BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION, AND SOCIETY WHICH PRODUCE POLICE ISOLATION AND ALIENATION FROM THE PUBLIC. CHAPTER TWO EXAMINES A THEORY OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DEVELOPS A MODEL FOR POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS PROGRAMS IN AMERICAN CITIES. CHAPTERS 3 AND 4 EXAMINE THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS UNIT IN THE RICHMOND BUREAU, AS WELL AS THE BROADER PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM WAS JUDGED A FAILURE BECAUSE OF ITS RAPID REVERSION TO FUNCTIONING SIMPLY AS A PUBLIC RELATIONS AGENT FOR THE BUREAU. THERE WAS A LACK OF SUPPORT OF THE PROGRAM AT ALL BUREAU LEVELS, LACK OF TRAINING IN AND KNOWLEDGE OF POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ON THE PART OF POLICE OFFICERS, AND LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY'S DOMINANT POLITICAL CULTURE (WHITE). THE FINAL CHAPTERS RELATE THE ACTIVITIES AND EXPERIENCES OF THE RICHMOND BUREAU TO THE GENERAL TRENDS IN POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AND SUMMARIZE THE STUDY'S CONCLUSIONS. IMPROVED COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE HELD TO REQUIRE REDEFINITION OF THE POLICE ROLE TO EMPHASIZE POSITIVE, NONPUNITIVE POLICE-CITIZEN CONTACT, POLICE TRAINING IN INTERPERSONAL SKILLS, ADDITIONAL MINORITY REPRESENTATION, AND CREATION OF A GENUINE POLICE-CITIZEN DIALOGUE WITH POSITIVE REACTION TO CITIZEN INPUTS. THE REPORT INCLUDES AN 8 PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)