NCJ Number
226526
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 75 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 16-18,20,22,24
Date Published
December 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article examines the necessary elements and imperatives of leadership in the development of a new paradigm or mind-set for fighting crime.
Abstract
Many of the methods that once produced results in crime prevention are now failing because the problems themselves have changed. The conventional mind-set is based mostly on post-incident correction or reacting to crime instead of taking the initiative to prevent it. Systems and structures are aligned for this post-incident, corrective, adversarial model. It is a model of repair, not prepare. There is the need for a paradigm (model) shift in the fight against crime. The new mind-set is about partnering for a sustainable civil society; a paradigm shift toward a community justice system. Communities must leave behind reactive systems and initiate proactive systems. The new paradigm is made up of three powerful ideas: initiative, partnership, and prevention. To help make the switch to the new paradigm requires the four imperatives of leadership: inspire trust, clarify purpose, align systems, and unleash talent. These imperatives apply to any individual, group, or organization. Places that have successfully implemented this new mind-set are seeing not only the beginning of an end to crime, but an actual end. 9 notes