NCJ Number
65788
Editor(s)
D HOEL,
J ZIEGENHAGEN
Date Published
1978
Length
121 pages
Annotation
THE PROCEEDINGS ARE PRESENTED OF A 1977 CONFERENCE BETWEEN POLICE OFFICIALS FROM MAJOR U.S. CITIES, MINORITY GROUP LEADERS, AAD FEDERAL OFFICIALS ON WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY CONTROL POLICE DISCRETIONARY POWERS.
Abstract
AN INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT NOTES THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE HELD BY MINORITY COMMUNITIES AS A RESULT OF A CULTURAL GAP BETWEEN THE INDIVIDUAL POLICEMAN'S ETHNOCENTRIC MIDDLE-CLASS ORIENTATION AND AS WHAT IS VIEWED AS THE INDISCREET USE OF FORCE BY THE POLICE. DESCRIBES AND EVALUATES SOME OF THE MECHANISMS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO CONTROL POLICE DISCRETION, INCLUDING INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNITS, CIVIL REVIEW BOARDS, POLICE RECRUITMENT POLICIES, AND INFORMATION ON POLICE ARRESTS SUPPLIED BY THE PROSECUTORS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. POLICE OFFICIALS FROM THE CITIES OF OAKLAND, LOS ANGELES, DETROIT, MADISON, PORTLAND (OREGON), BOSTON, AND MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL DESCRIBE PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CITIES FOR CONTROLLING POLICE DISCRETIONARY CONDUCT AND SENSITIZING MINORITY COMMUNITIES TO POLICE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. EACH PRESENTATION IS ACCOMPANIED BY A QUESTION-AND-ANSWER PERIOD IN WHICH MINORITY AND OTHER CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS DIRECT QUESTIONS ON POLICE-COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. IN ADDITION, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DESCRIBES THE MEDIATION, CONCILIATION, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OFFERED TO LOCAL POLICE-COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS FROM THE CONFERENCE ARE IDENTIFIED AS THE FOLLOWING: (1) POLICE DEPARTMENTS MUST IDENTIFY AND SET PRIORITIES ON COMMUNITY PROBLEMS; (2) POLICEMEN MUST BE VESTED WITH SUFFICIENT AUTHORITY TO EFFECTIVELY DO THEIR JOB AND CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS THAT DO NOT LEAD TO CONVICTIONS; AND (3) ELIMINATION OF POLICE ABUSES OF AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS INCREASED PAY AND WIDER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE, MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY IMPROVED POLICE SERVICES. (DEG)