Police - A Policy Paper

• NCJ Number: 76685
• Author(s): A Grant
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 98 pages
• Sale Source: Law Reform Cmssn of Canada
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: Criminal Law Series - A Study Paper prepared for the Law Reform Commission of Canada

Annotation

This policy paper considers law enforcement policies and police functions in Canada, with particular attention to the quality of police personnel and suggestions for legislation regarding police organization.

Abstract

An introductory section on enforcement policy argues that the present literature does not evidence a coherent theory of law enforcement which takes account of the important political choices which are made when police forces are organized and staffed. Issues involved in apportioning resources to deal with crime and public demands for police services are discussed together with the problem of bringing about changes in such arrangements in a democratic society. Also, present constitutional, organizational, and personnel provisions in Canadian public policing are reviewed to complement research activities being undertaken in the Police Powers Project, which seeks to identify the arrest, search, seizure, and surveillance powers necessay to ensure effective law enforcement and to provide safeguards against their abuse. It is asserted that no study of police powers (which are usually framed as if they were granted to individuals) can be complete unless equal attention is paid to the organizations by which they are exercised and to the quality of personnel at their command. Additionally, the text addresses the advantages and disadvantages of current public police arrangements in Canada and looks at constitutional questions before analyzing the functional divisions of police activity and the human resource development policies being pursued across the country. Finally, the text draws upon current public policing arrangements and their perceived advantages and disadvantages and argues for a much higher legislative concern for how police services are organized and staffed. Recomendations are made on some of the areas where legislation ought to take an unequivocally directive stand. In addition, the concept of the public police 'capability-factor' is developed, and some of the major criteria which would have to be present to satisfy this condition are identified. Endnotes are included. (Author abstract modified)