NCJ Number
31601
Editor(s)
J KINTON
Date Published
1975
Length
231 pages
Annotation
THIS ANTHOLOGY CONTAINS ARTICLES BY ACADEMICIANS AND POLICE PROFESSIONALS REGARDING THE CHANGING FACE OF THE POLICE SERVICE FUNCTION.
Abstract
FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MAJOR STRIDES IN MINIMAL EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS AND RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IN METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IN THE MIDDLE 1970'S POLICE SATISFACTION AND PUBLIC IMAGE REACHED A HIGHLY DESIRABLE LEVEL; HOWEVER, THE FACTORS CAUSING THE NEW SATISFACTION AND INCREASING POLICE INGROUP PROFESSIONAL LOYALTY INCLUDE PUBLIC DISAPPROVAL OF OLD POLICE PRACTICES RESULTING IN AN INCREASE IN CRIME RATES. THE CONTEMPORARY POLICEMAN HAS BEEN THREATENED BY THE INCREASINGLY INSISTENT DEMANDS OF PROFESSIONAL POLITICIANS FOR EXTENSIVE COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND WELFARE SYSTEMS AND THIS, COMBINED WITH THE CONTINUING THREAT PERCEIVED BY TRADITION-BOUND OLDER POLICE, OFFERS A CONTINUING CRISIS IN POLICE STATUS. POLICE ROLES CONTINUE TO BE IN TRANSITION AND THE STATUS OF POLICEMEN WILL REMAIN IN CONFLICT AS A RESULT OF THE TENSIONS BETWEEN NEW SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS AND THE PREFERENCE OF EXPERIENCED SUBCULTURAL MEMBERS FOR A STATUS LIMITED TO THE PROTECTION FUNCTION. THIS CRISIS AND THE CHANGING ROLE OF POLICE OFFICERS IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY ARE EXAMINED. THE MOVE FROM POLICE FORCE TO POLICE SERVICE, THE PUBLIC VIEW VERSUS THE POLICE VIEW OF POLICE WORK, AND THE AMERICAN POLICE AS A MINORITY OR SUBCULTURE ARE EXAMINED, AS ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL VIEW OF WOMEN IN POLICING, THE EMERGING ROLE OF WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND CRITICAL COMMENTS REGARDING THEORIES OF POLICE BEHAVIOR. THE ANTICIPATION AND MANAGEMENT OF DEMAND FOR POLICE UNDERCOVER SERVICES, POLICE PERSPECTIVES ON VICTIMLESS CRIME, AND THE ETIOLOGY OF POLICE AGGRESSION IN BLACK COMMUNITIES ARE DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS THE INTERACTION BETWEEN SKID ROW PEOPLE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TRENDS AND INNOVATIONS IN POLICE SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATION, AND THE EVOLUTION OF AMERICAN POLICE SYSTEMS. A WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY ON POLICE LIFE IS ALSO PROVIDED. (KBL)