NCJ Number
97921
Journal
Social Defence Volume: 19 Issue: 73 Dated: (July 1983) Pages: 12-19
Date Published
1983
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This discussion focuses on the role in of the police role India with respect to apprehension, court processing, and escorting of minors, mentally ill persons, and others under the nation's social legislation.
Abstract
The laws defining the police role in social services include Children's Acts, the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act, Prevention of Beggary Acts, Indian Lunacy Act, and the Lepers Act. Each law represents the culmination of efforts of social reformers who demanded that the State respect and deal constructively with those persons that society discards. The police are responsible for bringing to court or escorting to social service agencies nondelinquent and delinquent children, beggars, pauper lepers, mentally disturbed persons, and prostitutes. The police role varies according to the type of person and the law being enforced. In the case of beggars, the rate of apprehensions is low except when a crash program takes place or when begging is occurring around places like five-star hotels. Although police activities like escorting individuals to hospitals and other institutions seems inappropriate to some, the Gore Committee Report on Police Training concludes that the police are the only proper agency for the effective enforcement of social welfare legislation. The report also recommends a greater involvement of the police in social defense work, through such activities as rehabilitating juvenile delinquents and supporting the probation and parole process. Additional needs are careful training of the police for their social services roles and cooperation and communication among the personnel and agencies who must implement the legislation.