NCJ Number
2044
Date Published
1967
Length
25 pages
Annotation
POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION IS VIEWED AS A MEANS WHERE BY POLICE MAY ACCOMMODATE COMMUNITY DISRESPECT AND ENHANCE THEIR OWN SELF IMAGE AND RESPECT.
Abstract
POLICE ORGANIZATION HAS CHANGED UNEVENLY, BUT MARKEDLY, IN AMERICAN MUNICIPALITIES. ONE WAY OF DESCRIBING THIS CHANGE HAS BEEN TO USE THE TERM PROFESSIONALIZATION. POLICE PROFESSIONALIZATION MEANS MANY THINGS. ONE IS AN INCREASING EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNAL CONTROL, MANAGEMENT AND DEPLOYMENT WITH USE OF SKILLED MANAGEMENT AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS SPECIALISTS, OFTEN CIVILIANS. ANOTHER IS A GREATER EMPHASIS ON BOTH PRE-EMPLOYMENT EDUCATION AND IN-SERVICE TRAINING, OFTEN OF UNIVERSITY LEVEL. BUT PROFESSIONALIZATION ALSO MEANS A TRANSFORMATION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL BASE FOR OCCUPATIONAL HONOR, A TRANSFORMATION WHICH SOMETIMES OCCURS IN THE FORM OF CRISIS-PRODUCED REFORM. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)