VIOLENCE AND POLICE

• NCJ Number: 46290
• Author(s): G STEINHILPER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 50 pages
• Corporate Author: Problems
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Greece
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE THIRD CRIMINOLOGICAL COLLOQUIUM, STRASBOURG, FRANCE, AUGUST 17, 1977

Annotation

THIS REPORT DEALS WITH AGGRESSION AND VIOLENT CRIME IN RELATION TO POLICE EFFORTS AT CONTAINMENT AND PREVENTION THROUGH TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL INTERVENTION.

Abstract

SUBSTANTIAL MULTIDIMENSIONAL CONSIDERATION OF THE TERMS 'VIOLENCE,' 'POLICE,' AND 'PREVENTION' IS PRESENTED. EACH TERM IS SHOWN TO HAVE VARIOUS CONNOTATIONS DEPENDING ON ITS SPECIFIC APPLICATION AND AUDIENCE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEANING OF VIOLENCE IS MOLDED BY THE POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND CRIME-RELATED CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PREVAIL IN A GIVEN COUNTRY. A NORTHERN IRISHMAN IS LIKELY TO LINK THE TERM VIOLENCE WITH CIVIL-WAR-LIKE ACTIONS, WHILE FOR A RESIDENT OF DETROIT, THE TERM MAY SEEM OVERWHELMINGLY CONNOTATIVE OF HOMICIDE. WHEN CONSIDERING POSSIBLE AVENUES OF CRIME PREVENTION, THE TERM POLICE MUST BE SELECTIVELY APPLIED. STREET CRIME FALLS WITHIN THE AREA OF THE LOCAL AND PERHAPS NATIONAL POLICE AUTHORITIES, WHILE ACTS OF TERRORISM MAY DRAW UPON THE RESOURCES OF THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR OR MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ARMED FORCES IN CONNECTION WITH A PURELY DOMESTIC POLICING ACTIVITY. CRIME PREVENTION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEGISLATORS, JUDGES, POLICE AND PROBATION OFFICERS, AND THE PUBLIC-AT-LARGE; EACH GROUP MAY HAVE DIFFERENT IDEAS CONCERNING PREVENTION METHODOLOGY AND RESOURCE APPLICATION, AND A PARTICULAR PREVENTION EFFORT MUST BE VIEWED IN TERMS OF ITS INDIVIDUAL SCOPE AND MANAGEMENT. THE REPORT FOCUSES ON PARTICULAR AREAS OF VIOLENT CRIME, INCLUDING TERRORISM, HOSTAGE-TAKING, AND VIOLENT DELINQUENCY ON THE PART OF JUVENILES; AND ON THE POLICE THEMSELVES AS A DIRECT OR INDIRECT INFLUENCE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE IN SOCIETY. ARMING THE POLICE AS A POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE, SELECTION AND TRAINING OF POLICE OFFICERS AS A POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE, AND CONFLICTING DEFINITIONS OF THE POLICE ROLE ARE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND TWO APPENDIXES CONTAINING DETAILED QUESTION-ANSWER FORMATS FOR USE IN CONDUCTING DEPARTMENTAL ANALYSES ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE COMPARISON FIGURES AND RESEARCH CONCLUSIONS REGARDING WOUNDING AND SHOOTING DEATHS BY AND OF POLICEMEN IN THE U.S., ENGLAND, AND AUSTRAILA/ (KBL)