POLICE ON SKID ROW - A STUDY OF PEACE KEEPING (FROM CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS - A READER, 1976 BY WILLIAM B SANDERS AND HOWARD C DAUDISTEL - SEE NCJ-34969)

• NCJ Number: 34970
• Author(s): E BITTNER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Praeger Publishers
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

BASED ON FIELD WORK WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN TWO LARGE CITIES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI, THIS PAPER EXAMINES THE METHODS AND PRACTICES USED BY POLICE TO 'KEEP THE PEACE' ON SKID ROW.

Abstract

IT IS NOTED THAT POLICE GENERALLY HAVE TWO FUNCTIONS: LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PEACE KEEPING. SEVERAL PEACE KEEPING FUNCTIONS ARE OUTLINED, INCLUDING REGULATION OF TRAFFIC, WARNING OF CERTAIN MINOR OFFENDERS, INTERVENTION IN NONCRIMINAL DISPUTES BETWEEN PERSONS, CROWD CONTROL, AND HANDLING OF PERSONS WHO ARE VIEWED AS LESS THAN FULLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. IN THIS ARTICLE. THE AUTHOR EXAMINES THE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT DEMAND CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY SKID ROW POLICING. IT WAS FOUND THAT PEACEKEEPING PROCEDURE ON SKID-ROW CONSISTS OF THREE ELEMENTS. PATROLMEN SEEK TO ACQUIRE A RICH BODY OF CONCRETE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT PEOPLE BY CULTIVATING PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE WITH AS MANY RESIDENTS AS POSSIBLE. THEY TEND TO PROCEED AGAINST PERSONS MAINLY ON THE BASIS OF PERCEIVED RISK, RATHER THAN ON THE BASIS OF CULPABILITY. FINALLY, THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN REDUCING THE AGGREGATE TOTAL OF TROUBLES IN THE AREA THAN IN EVALUATING INDIVIDUAL CASES ACCORDING TO MERIT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)