NCJ Number
52705
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 11-16
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF POLICE RESEARCH IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE ORGANIZATIONS RESPONSIBLE FOR CARRYING OUT POLICE-SPONSORED RESEARCH IN WEST GERMANY INCLUDE A RESEARCH-EDUCATION ACADEMY SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS, THE STATE CRIMINAL POLICE OFFICES, AND THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL POLICE OFFICE. THE STATUS OF WEST GERMAN POLICE RESEARCH IS ASSESSED IN FIVE AREAS: THE EXTENT, PATTERN, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CRIME; OFFENSES; VICTIMS; OFFENDERS; AND SOCIETY'S RESPONSE TO CRIME THROUGH THE POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND THE COURTS. EXAMPLES OF STUDIES IN EACH AREA ARE CITED, AND MAJOR FINDINGS ARE HIGHLIGHTED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE EMPHASES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY DIFFER, ALTHOUGH MANY THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL APPROACHES ARE SIMILAR. RESEARCH IN GERMANY HAS FOCUSED ON EMPLOYEE CRIME, TRAFFIC OFFENSES, EXTORTION, AND BANK ROBBERY. IN THE UNITED STATES, RESEARCHERS HAVE EXAMINED ORGANIZED CRIME, GANGS, VIOLENCE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY ORGANIZATION, PLANNING, AND EVALUATION--RELATIVELY NEW RESEARCH FIELDS IN GERMANY. LACK OF COORDINATION AND COOPERATION IN CERTAIN AREAS, BOTH WITHIN GERMANY AND INTERNATIONALLY, IS SAID TO BE A SOURCE OF PROBLEMS IN THE GERMAN POLICE RESEARCH PROGRAM. ALTHOUGH QUESTIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION USUALLY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE PRIMARILY NATIONAL, THERE IS MUCH TO BE LEARNED FROM AN EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. (LKM)