NCJ Number
43296
Date Published
1977
Length
249 pages
Annotation
ACTUAL INCIDENTS ARE USED TO ILLUSTRATE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A POLICE RECRUIT IS HIRED AND TRAINED, HANDLES HIS FIRST ARREST, IS CALLED UPON TO DEAL WITH FAMILY CRISIS SITUATIONS, AND RISES IN RANK.
Abstract
THIS TEXTBOOK IS AN OUTGROWTH OF A COURSE IN 'THE SOCIOLOGY OF THE POLICE OCCUPATION' AND INCLUDES MUCH MATERIAL FROM THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCES OF THE STUDENTS. THE EFFECTS OF A POLICEMAN'S PERSONALITY ON HIS WORK IS EXAMINED IN CHAPTERS ON 'THE ENFORCERS,' 'THE IDEALISTS,' 'THE REALISTS,' AND 'THE OPTIMISTS.' CHANGES IN POLICE TRAINING ARE EXAMINED, AND WAYS SUGGESTED TO USE FORMAL AND INFORMAL TRAINING TO EMPHASIZE POSITIVE QUALITIES. POLICE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, ELDERLY PERSONS, AND SPECIAL GROUPS, ARE CHANGING; THE NEED FOR TRAINING IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS IS EMPHASIZED. OFFICERS ALSO NEED ACCESS TO COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO HELP THEM HANDLE FAMILY CRISES AND OTHER SITUATIONS WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY BECOMING POLICE MATTERS. CHANGING THE POLICE ORGANIZATION TO GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, TO ATTRACT BETTER RECRUITS, AND TO GIVE OFFICERS MORE OF A ROLE IN DETERMINING POLICY IS DISCUSSED. ADVANTAGES AND PROBLEMS OF THE MOVE TOWARD GREATER PROFESSIONALISM, WITH ITS EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION, ARE NOTED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS; SUMMARIES OF THE MAPP, MIRANDA, AND ESCOBEDO SUPREME COURT DICISIONS; AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.