NCJ Number
100283
Journal
Public Administration Review Volume: 45 Dated: special issue (November 1985) Pages: 758-765
Date Published
1985
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This overview of the trend toward greater cooperation between public and private policing organizations examines the resulting problems of accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness and assesses strategies for managing public-private security systems.
Abstract
Police administrators have turned increasingly to the private sector in order to cope with increasing demands for service in an era of declining resources. Individuals also rely more on private substitutes for watchman services that public agencies no longer can offer. The author explores the costs of such safety substitutes and the pros and cons of the tremendous growth in private security. Specific issues addressed include moonlighting by police officers, false alarms, and vigilante-type groups. The author describes four models for structuring public-private sector relationships: the laissez faire approach, in which the marketplace fills the gaps in police service; quality control of market services through insurance and bonding requirements; cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding; and licensing. Graphs and 17 footnotes.