Chap 1 Flashcards
What are the two primary concerns of police administration?
1) an internal one, the performance of management duties within police organizations
2) external one, the implementation of policies and programs designed to reduce crime and disorder and enhance public safety
What is the metropolitan police act?
1829 Marks, the origin of organized paid civilian policing as we currently know it
What are the fundamental principles of sir Robert peels reform?
Should be organized along military lines
Securing and training proper persons is essential
Police should be hired on a probationary basis
Police should be under governmental control
Police strength should be deployed by time and area
Police headquarters should be centrally located
Recordkeeping is essential
Summarize peels approach to police administration?
Centralized organization with graded authority
Selective and stringent personnel standards
Describe the problems with political era of policing?
Obstacle to adopt appeals approach, and US was the view of police as under demanding physical labor, which prevented the establishment of rigorous personnel standards
Initially police work was the domain of certain politically powerful, ethnic groups rather than a profession of highly qualified people
It mattered what political party you were associated with
De centralize organizational structures were favored over centralized ones- the real power and authority belong to precinct not commissioners or chiefs
Why? Decentralization approach was to protect local political influence over the police.
Discuss the professional era of policing
Centralized organization and higher police personnel standards (Vollmer)
The Wickersham commission from police were substandard, and the presidents commission found insufficient progress had been made (30’s- 60’s)
Both found quality of police low in terms of caring out the job to be done and in comparison to the rest of the population and called for a substantial upgrading of police personnel
What are some problems with the professional model of policing?
Separation of policing from politics when taken to extremes can result and Paul, who are so independent of political control. They are no longer responsive or accountable.
In the 60s and 70s crime increased
Key strategies such as preventative patrol rapid response have been found to be far less effective than originally thought
What branch of government are the police a part of?
Executive
Is policing predominantly a local or federal function?
Local and most agencies are small where 1/2 have 10 or a few were sworn employees
How is police administration constrained and affected by law?
Legislature, defining, new acts, eliminating some crimes, revising police authority, the court continuously, interpreting, and redefining the law
Constitutional law is always in flux courts, interpret and reinterpret passages
Department sometimes inherit new duties and responsibilities through legislation
Democracy is based on consensus among the members of society. When does the police job begin?
When that consensus breaks down
When there is a crisis of legitimacy, the public become less trusting and the public expect the government to be transparent
What are the four dimensions of community oriented policing?
Philosophical dimension (central ideas and beliefs underlying community policing)
Strategic dimension (link between the broad ideas and beliefs, that underline community policing and the specific programs and practices by which it is implemented) (1 alternative police operational strategies 2 sharper geographic focus,3 stronger, emphasis on prevention)
Tactical dimension (translates ideas, philosophies and strategies into concrete programs, practices and behaviors. Three of the most important elements are positive interactions with the public, partnerships, and problem oriented approach.)
Organizational dimension (Directly addresses, the changes and police organization, administration and management that might be required to support and facilitate the implementation of community policing. Maybe necessary in the areas of structure management and information collection
