NCJ Number
44467
Journal
Monatsschrift fuer Kriminologie und Strafrechtsreform Volume: 60 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1977) Pages: 65-82
Date Published
1977
Length
18 pages
Annotation
CONFLICTS IN THE ROLES OF INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS AS WELL AS WITHIN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS ARE ANALYZED ON THE BASIS OF A 1974 SURVEY OF 1,243 POLICE OFFICERS FROM ALL THE WEST GERMAN STATES.
Abstract
RESULTS SHOW THAT IN THE CONFLICT BETWEEN EXPANSION AND REDUCTION OF POLICE TASKS OFFICERS FAVOR DELEGATING ADMINISTRATION TO OTHER AUTHORITIES BUT INCREASING CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS, THAT OFFICERS TEND TO CONSIDER THEIR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH FORCE AND CONSEQUENTLY FIND THEMSELVES IN AN AMBIVALENT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC (AUTHORITY FIGURES VERSUS PROTECTORS), AND THAT IN THE POWER-DEPENDENCE CONFLICT THEY REGARD INFLUENCE ON POLICE FROM OUTSIDE INSTITUTIONS TO BE TOO GREAT AND ATTENTION TO ADVICE FROM POLICE ON LEGAL REFORM TO BE TOO LIMITED. FURTHERMORE, OFFICERS BELIEVE THAT EXCESSIVE REGULATIONS ONLY SERVE TO REINFORCE AN UNDESIRABLE HIERARCHICAL POLICE ORGANIZATION AND THAT AN INFORMAL POLICE COMMUNICATION NETWORK IS MORE EFFECTIVE FOR INFORMATION EXCHANGE. MOST OFFICERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER RANKS AND IN THE PROTECTIVE POLICE, DESIRE MORE RESPONSIBILITY IN DECISIONMAKING. THE OFFICERS EXHIBIT DECIDED SUSPICION TOWARD CRIMINAL JUSTICE AUTHORITIES AND RELUCTANCE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COURTS, WHICH ARE VIEWED AS 'SOFT' ON CRIMINALS. POLICE OFFICERS DISPLAY UNCERTAINTY TOWARD PUBLIC OPINION, FEAR OF DOWNWARD SOCIAL MOBILITY, AND DISTRUST OF THE PRESS AND MASS MEDIA; THE GREATEST FRICTION BETWEEN OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC OCCURS IN THE AREA OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS. FINALLY, MANY OFFICERS EXPRESS DOUBT THAT POLICE OFFICERS IN GENERAL HAVE A GREATER SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAN OTHER PROFESSIONALS OR THAT THE WORK CLIMATE IS BETTER IN THE POLICE PROFESSION THAN IN OTHER PROFESSIONS. NOTES AND TABLES ARE PROVIDED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)