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RURAL POLICE

NCJ Number
59399
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Dated: (1912) Pages: 228-233
Author(s)
C R HENDERSON
Date Published
1912
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE RELATIVE SECURITY OF THE SPANISH AND CANADIAN FRONTIERS IS CONTRASTED WITH THE LAWLESSNESS OF AMERICAN RURAL REGIONS, AND THE AUGMENTATION OF RURAL POLICE IS ADVOCATED.
Abstract
THE CANADIAN NETWORK OF MOUNTED POLICEMEN AND THE SPANISH ORGANIZATION OF ARMED STATE GUARDS PROVIDE A SECURE EXISTENCE FOR RURAL CITIZENS AND HAVE ENSURED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY. THE ABSENCE OF SUCH A POLICE FORCE IN THE UNITED STATES PRODUCED UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED AND LOSS OF PROPERTY AS THE FRONTIER TERRITORIES WERE COMPELLED TO RELY ON VIGILANTES. RURAL CONSTABULARIES OF THE VARIOUS STATES ARE GENERALLY NOT EQUIPPED TO DETER AND INVESTIGATE CRIMES PERPETRATED BY EXPERIENCED URBAN CRIMINALS WHO VICTIMIZE OUTLYING AREAS. IT IS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT STATEWIDE POLICE DEPARTMENTS NOT BE LIMITED TO REGULATION OF LIQUOR LAWS AND FISHING ORDINANCES. INSTEAD, STATE POLICE AGENCIES SHOULD BE AS WELL TRAINED AS THEIR ADVERSARIES, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THE EXTENSION OF RAPID TRANSIT AND HIGHWAYS INTO THE COUNTRY HAS WIDENED THE FIELD FOR URBAN CRIMINALS. THE STATE POLICE FORCES WOULD COOPERATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES ON MATTERS OF EXTRADITION AND INVESTIGATION AND EMPLOY PROFESSIONAL DETECTIVES. IN THE WAR AGAINST CRIME IT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE, AND CRIMINAL GANGS OUGHT TO BE HARRIED UNTIL THEIR MODE OF LIVING BECOMES UNENDURABLE. SWIFT AND SURE JUSTICE BEGINS WITH A TRAINED CORPS OF DETECTIVES WHOSE EFFECTIVE WORK WILL PREVENT THE PUBLIC'S RESORT TO MOB VIOLENCE. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.

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