The Police in AmericaThe Police in America

Chapter OneChapter OnePolice and SocietyPolice and Society

© 2013 McGraw-Hill Companies. All Rights Reserved.McGraw-Hill

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The Goals of the BookThe Goals of the Book

The purpose of this book is to provide the The purpose of this book is to provide the necessary background information about necessary background information about policing to help you, the reader, discuss policing to help you, the reader, discuss such innovative programs as community such innovative programs as community policing, problem-oriented policing, zero-policing, problem-oriented policing, zero-tolerance policing, and team policing. The tolerance policing, and team policing. The book does not argue for or against any book does not argue for or against any one of these innovations in policing.one of these innovations in policing.

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Definition: Definition: Law Enforcement AgencyLaw Enforcement Agency

A General Service Law Enforcement Agency:A General Service Law Enforcement Agency: Prevents crimePrevents crime Investigates crime and apprehends criminalsInvestigates crime and apprehends criminals Maintains orderMaintains order Provides many other miscellaneous servicesProvides many other miscellaneous services

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Definition:Definition:Police Officer and Peace OfficerPolice Officer and Peace Officer

A police officer is a nonmilitary person who is A police officer is a nonmilitary person who is employed by a government agency and has the employed by a government agency and has the legal status of a peace officer.legal status of a peace officer.

A peace officer is a status granted to individuals A peace officer is a status granted to individuals who have certain powers not available to who have certain powers not available to ordinary citizens and who provide certain legal ordinary citizens and who provide certain legal protections. A peace officer can be police, protections. A peace officer can be police, probation, parole, or corrections officer.probation, parole, or corrections officer.

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Myths About PolicingMyths About Policing The Crime Fighter MythThe Crime Fighter Myth

Enforce the Law Enforce the Law Investigate CrimesInvestigate Crimes Arrest CriminalsArrest Criminals

Perpetuating the Crime Fighter ImagePerpetuating the Crime Fighter Image Entertainment Media Entertainment Media News MediaNews Media Police themselvesPolice themselves Unreasonable jurorsUnreasonable jurors CSI EffectCSI Effect

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The Realities of PolicingThe Realities of Policing

Complexity of the Police RoleComplexity of the Police Role AmbiguitiesAmbiguities DiscretionDiscretion ConflictConflict

Studies of Police WorkStudies of Police Work The Police Service StudyThe Police Service Study

Standards for Police WorkStandards for Police Work The American Bar AssociationThe American Bar Association

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American Bar Association, American Bar Association, Standards Relating Standards Relating to the Urban Police Functionto the Urban Police Function

Identify criminal offenders and Identify criminal offenders and criminal activity and, when criminal activity and, when appropriate, apprehend offenders appropriate, apprehend offenders and participate in subsequent and participate in subsequent court proceedingscourt proceedings

Reduce the opportunities for the Reduce the opportunities for the commission of some crimes commission of some crimes through preventive patrol and through preventive patrol and other measuresother measures

Aid individuals who are in danger Aid individuals who are in danger of physical harmof physical harm

Protect constitutional guaranteesProtect constitutional guarantees

Facilitate the movement of people Facilitate the movement of people and vehiclesand vehicles

Assist those who cannot care for Assist those who cannot care for themselvesthemselves

Identify potentially serious law Identify potentially serious law enforcement or government enforcement or government problemsproblems

Create and maintain a feeling of Create and maintain a feeling of security in the communitysecurity in the community

Promote and preserve civil orderPromote and preserve civil order Provide other services on an Provide other services on an

emergency basisemergency basis

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Citizen Calls for Police ServicesCitizen Calls for Police Services

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Factors that shape the police roleFactors that shape the police role

Police are 24/7Police are 24/7 People call and police People call and police

promise to respondpromise to respond Police are generalistsPolice are generalists Authority to use forceAuthority to use force Police are part of the Police are part of the

system of social controlsystem of social control

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Alternative PossibilitiesAlternative Possibilities

Problem-Oriented PolicingProblem-Oriented Policing Community PolicingCommunity Policing Zero-Tolerance PolicingZero-Tolerance Policing Honest Law EnforcementHonest Law Enforcement These topics will be discussed in future These topics will be discussed in future

chapters.chapters.