NCJ Number
94051
Journal
National Centurion Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (April 1984) Pages: 26-29,46-48
Date Published
1984
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Alvin Toffler's prediction of a 'Third Wave', which involves society depending increasingly on technology and information systems to compensate for dwindling worldwide resources, will influence policing styles and responsibilities.
Abstract
The immediate future holds many challenges for policing. Financial restraints should remain for the next 5-8 years, and law enforcement will have to look more to private businesses for contributions. Citizens who wish additional security will have to pay for it from their own pockets. Officers will have to understand the various values and customs of the many nationalities composing American communities. Further, police managers will emphasize crime prevention and community involvement. Internally, new means of motivation and reward will be used as budget constraints slow upward mobility for employees. In the year 2,000, after there has been a full transition into the 'Third Wave', the police officers' job will hardly resemble duties of police in 1984. Local police departments may only be handling enforcement work of major importance. Many communities will be walled and under the protection of private police services. The crime picture will have changed, as white-collar crime and computer crime may be rampant, requiring a new form of investigative expertise. As money becomes obsolete through electronic transactions, the emphasis will be on theft by electronic technology. The police will be assisted in the identification of criminal suspects through various technological advances, including the development of communications systems far superior to those currently used. Citizens may communicate with police through home computers. The number of foot patrols may increase, and lasers may help police officers track speeders, shoot more accurately, and enhance latent fingerprint discovery.