NCJ Number
12839
Date Published
1972
Length
147 pages
Annotation
THIS EXAMINATION OF THE ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES AND POLICIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOCUSES ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MECHANISMS TO INCREASE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES.
Abstract
AFTER A FOREWORD THAT BRIEFLY DISCUSSES THE PROBLEM OF INCREASING POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY, A PROFILE OF URBAN POLICE EXAMINES THE CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOR OF POLICE PERSONNEL: THE POLICE RECRUIT, POLICE SOCIALIZATION, POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY, AND POLICE DISCRETION ARE DISCUSSED. AN ARTICLE ON SUPREME COURT EFFECTIVENESS AND THE POLICE ORGANIZATION EMPHASIZES THE LIMITS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SUPREME COURT-IMPOSED RESTRAINTS ON POLICE BEHAVIOR. IT ARGUES THAT SUCH EFFECTIVENESS IS MITIGATED BY THE MILIEU IN WHICH THE POLICE OFFICER OPERATES, BY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POLICE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS, AND BY THE RELATIONSHIP POLICE HAVE WITH THEIR REFERENCE GROUPS. ALTERNATIVES TO THE EXCLUSIONARY RULE ARE DISCUSSED AS MEANS FOR CONTROLLING POLICE CONDUCT, AND THE CASE FOR RULEMAKING BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS PRESENTED. UNSUCCESSFUL EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH EFFICIENT AND RESPONSIVE POLICE REVIEW BOARDS IN NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA ARE EXPLORED, AND UNDERLYING PROBLEMS FACING ANY INSTITUTION WHICH MAKES SUCH AN ATTEMPT ARE DISCUSSED. OTHER ARTICLES DEAL WITH POLICE DISCRETION AND DIVERSION OF INCIDENTS OF INTRAFAMILY BEHAVIOR AND THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN DEFINING AND MEASURING POLICE OUTPUT.