NCJ Number
92621
Journal
Public Interest Issue: 70 Dated: (Winter 1983) Pages: 49-65
Date Published
1983
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The reforms which have increasingly professionalized the police in the United States have ignored or even undermined some of the features that once made the police powerful institutions in maintaining a sense of community security.
Abstract
In the mid-1800's, the policing functions which had previously been performed by private police started to be performed by publicly supported police. These police had broad responsibilities: to maintain public order, to regulate economic activity, and to provide emergency services. A variety of developments between 1870 and 1970 resulted in a narrowing of the police role to that of professional crime fighter, with a focus on violent crime and serious property crime. This shift in focus and increased use of technology has resulted in weakening police ties with communities. This has not been counterbalanced by an improvement in the ability to reduce or solve crimes, however. Professionalization has reduced corruption, improved due process, and produced improvements in police training. Police forces need to maintain these benefits while trying to regain some lost benefits. They should encourage efforts at private policing, broaden their responsibilities to focus on victim services and maintenance of public order, increase the use of foot patrols, and reorganize along geographic lines to make policymaking and operations more accessible to citizens. These efforts would make citizens feel safer and might also increase their real safety. Fifteen notes are provided.