NCJ Number
59403
Date Published
1929
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS OF RURAL POLICE PROTECTION IN ILLINOIS IN THE 1920'S IS ASSESSED AND REFORMS ARE SUGGESTED IN AN ANALYSIS PUBLISHED IN 1929.
Abstract
THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS BROUGHT GRAVE CRIME PROBLEMS TO RURAL ILLINOIS IN THE 1920'S. RURAL POLICING IN ILLINOIS DURING THIS PERIOD INVOLVED A VARIETY OF PUBLIC AND QUASI-PUBLIC AGENCIES: SHERIFFS, DEPUTY SHERIFFS, SPECIAL DEPUTIES, CONSTABLES (TOWNSHIPS), POLICE (SMALLER TOWNS), DETECTIVES EMPLOYED BY PROSECUTORS, COUNTY POLICE, THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, THE ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD (IN SERIOUS EMERGENCIES, SUCH AS LABOR RIOTS), BANK GUARDS, BANK-SUPPORTED VIGILANCE COMMITTEES, AND SMALLER ASSOCIATIONS FORMED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST HORSE THIEVES AND OTHER OFFENDERS. THE TIME-HONORED AGENCIES OF CRIME REPRESSION IN RURAL AREAS (SHERIFFS AND CONSTABLES) EITHER AVOIDED OR WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE CRIME WAVE. A FULL-TIME, PROFESSIONAL POLICE FORCE WAS BEYOND THE REACH OF MOST SMALL TOWNS. THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS INVOLVED IN LOCAL POLITICS AND HAD NOT YET MADE CRIME REPRESSION AND APPREHENSION OF FELONS A MAJOR PART OF ITS WORK. AN ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION CONCLUDED THAT THE ANSWER WAS TO BE FOUND IN REORGANIZING THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL--DECENTRALIZING OPERATIONS INTO FOUR REGIONS, ADOPTING A POLICY OF FREQUENT TRANSFERS FOR RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS, FOCUSING ON MOBILITY AND FLEXIBILITY, AND MOVING THE PATROL OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND BUILDINGS TO MAKE IT THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE GOVERNOR. THESE REFORMS WOULD PRODUCE A TRAINED AND DISCIPLINED POLICE FORCE SUBJECT AT ALL TIMES TO CIVIL AUTHORITY, ABLE TO REPRESS CRIME THROUGH FREQUENT PATROLS IN ALL PARTS OF THE STATE, AND ABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS. IN CREATING A STATEWIDE POLICE FORCE, THE ROLE OF THE FORCE IN DEALING WITH RIOTS WOULD HAVE TO RECEIVE CLOSE ATTENTION.