NCJ Number
44552
Date Published
1968
Length
144 pages
Annotation
THE STATE OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN 1931 IS EXAMINED, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON DEFICIENCIES IN ORGANIZATION, RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND PERFORMANCE, AND HOW THESE PROBLEMS MIGHT BE CORRECTED.
Abstract
PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE POLICE EXECUTIVE (CHIEF) ARE DISCUSSED, PARTICULARLY THE RELATIONSHIP OF POLITICS AND THE EXECUTIVE. THE FACT THAT POLICE CHIEFS ARE POLITICALLY APPOINTED RESULTS IN UNCERTAIN TERMS OF OFFICE AND FREQUENT CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP. CONSEQUENTLY, CHIEFS ARE OFTEN UNFAMILIAR WITH THE LARGER PROBLEMS OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS, MANY ARE NOT TRULY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION, AND THERE IS A NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON OFFICER MORALE. WITH REGARD TO RECRUITMENT OF POLICE OFFICERS, IT IS DEMONSTRATED THAT CONSIDERATION OF THE BASIC INTELLIGENCE OF THE RECRUIT AND A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING PROGRAM ARE ESSENTIAL, YET THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED. POLICE COMMUNICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED, WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF A MODEL SIGNAL NETWORK TO EFFECTIVE POLICE WORK. THROUGH RAPID COMMUNICATION, POLICE CAN BE ADVISED OF THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME, DETAILS OF THE OFFENDER, AND WHERE TO CONCENTRATE IN THE INVESTIGATION. KEEPING UNIFORM AND ACCURATE RECORDS IS ESSENTIAL TO THE INVESTIGATION OF INDIVIDUAL CASES AS WELL AS THE FORMATION OF POLICE STRATEGY AND EXPRESSION OF THE POLICY OF THE DEPARTMENT. SOME EFFECTS OF INADEQUATE RECORDKEEPING IN DIFFERENT CITIES ARE POINTED OUT. PREVENTION OF CRIME AS A NEWLY RECOGNIZED OBLIGATION OF THE POLICEMAN IS DISCUSSED. THE PLACE OF THE WOMAN POLICE OFFICE IS PRESENTED IN RELATION TO HER DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO CRIME PREVENTION. THE PROBLEM OF THE JUVENILE DELINQUENT IS ALSO CONSIDERED. VARIOUS POLICE JURISDICTIONS (STATE AND MUNICIPAL), THEIR CONTACTS WITH EACH OTHER, AND THEIR RELATION TO THE CONTROL OF CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. LIMITATIONS AND ADVANTAGES OF LOCAL POLICE ARE EXPLORED, AND EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON THE NEED FOR A STATE AND NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE FOR POLICE INFORMATION.