NCJ Number
59718
Date Published
1979
Length
176 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE FUNCTION WITHIN THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF AMERICAN URBAN LIFE IS PROVIDED IN THIS BOOK FOR POLICE, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND URBAN STUDIES.
Abstract
THE URBAN LAW ENFORCEMENT ENVIRONMENT IS MARKED BY ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND GENERATIONAL DIVERSITY AND BY CONFLICTS, WHICH SHAPE THE FUNCTIONS OF URBAN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. POLICE ARE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO THE VIOLENCE RESULTING FROM THE CONFLICTS WHICH SUCH DIVERSITY CREATES. THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IS ALSO SHAPED BY THE AMBIVALENT ATTITUDE OF AMERICANS TOWARDS ALL TYPES OF AUTHORITY. POLICE ARE OFTEN CONSIDERED A NECESSARY EVIL WHOSE AUTHORITY SHOULD BE LIMITED, WHOSE ORGANIZATION SHOULD BE FRAGMENTED, AND WHOSE NUMBERS SHOULD BE MINIMAL. POLICE PERFORM THEIR BASIC FUNCTION OF MAINTAINING ORDER BY USING A VARIETY OF SKILLS INCLUDING THEIR CRIME FIGHTING SKILLS. THEY ALSO PROVIDE MEDICAL AND LEGAL SERVICES TO CITY RESIDENTS OR THEY REFER THEM TO APPROPRIATE AGENCIES. ALTHOUGH POLICE ADMINISTRATORS RARELY ADMIT THAT THEIR OFFICERS USE DISCRETION IN ENFORCING THE LAW, THE OFFICERS CONSTANTLY MUST DECIDE WHEN AND HOW TO INTERVENE IN SITUATIONS THEY ENCOUNTER. POLICE OPERATE UNDER THE STRICT RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT BENEFIT OF THE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS GRANTED OTHER CITIZENS, ANND THEY FACE PRESSURE FROM THEIR FELLOW OFFICERS, THEIR FAMILIES AND SOCIETY IN GENERAL. MOST POLICE USE A VARIETY OF POLICING STYLES (SAFE, PRODUCING, CRIME FIGHTING, AVOIDING, AND STREET). SPECIAL ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON POLICE ETHICS, POLICE-MINORITY GROUP RELATIONS AND THE SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF POLICING INNER CITY GHETTOS, AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, ESPECIALLY PSYCHOLOGISTS, WHO WORK IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (KCP)