NCJ Number
66566
Date Published
1979
Length
16 pages
Annotation
POLICE ANTIPATHY TOWARD SOCIAL WORKERS PREVENTS THEM FROM RECOGNIZING THEIR OWN SOCIAL SERVICE FUNCTION AND COMPLICATES RESEARCH ASSESSING THE POLICE SOCIAL WELFARE ROLE.
Abstract
MUCH POLICE SOCIAL WORK IS UNDOCUMENTED. IN A CHANGING SOCIETY, HOWEVER, THE POLICE ARE THE FIRST PUBLIC SERVANTS PEOPLE TURN TO DURING FAMILY OR PERSONAL CRISES, AND STUDIES ESTIMATE THAT 8 OUT OF 10 CALLS IN HIGH CRIME URBAN AREAS ARE NOT RELATED TO CRIME. NEVERTHELESS, SOCIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK ARE ANTITHETICAL IN MANY WAYS; POLICE OFTEN CONSIDER SOCIAL WORK EXTRANEOUS TO THEIR SWORN DUTIES. IN ADDITION, POLICE EXPOSURE TO DANGER AND DEVIANCE OFTEN INDUCE THEM TO STRONG ANTIDEVIANT AND ANTIPUBLIC ATTITUDES. FURTHER ANTIPATHY TO AND POOR COMMUNICATION WITH SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS DUE TO DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND GOALS, FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHIES DO NOT FOSTER POSITIVE ATTITUDES AMONG POLICE ABOUT SOCIAL WELFARE WORK. CONSEQUENTLY, FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED INTO HOW THE TRADITIONALLY CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY OF POLICE AFFECTS THEIR POLICY AND ACTIONS AS AGENCIES OF SOCIAL CONTROL. POLICE MAY FILL A VITAL SOCIAL WELFARE ROLE IN FRAGMENTED INNER-CITY COMMUNITIES, BUT THEIR CONTROL FUNCTIONS FOSTER IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICTS HINDERING LIAISON WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. ALSO, INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN POLICE AGENCIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES NEED FURTHER EXPLORATION, SINCE THE POLICE OFFICIALLY AND UNOFFICIALLY FUNNEL MANY PEOPLE INTO SOCIAL AGENCIES. FINALLY, THE POLICEMEN'S VIEWS OF THEIR ROLE IN SOCIETY SHOULD BE ANALYZED, AS WELL AS THEIR INCREASING ROLE CONFUSION. RELATED STUDIES MIGHT INCLUDE WHAT POLICEMEN EXPECT OF EACH OTHER AS COLLEAGUES. (PAP)