Chapter 2 Flashcards
History of Police Organizations
ERA 1: The political era
ERA 2: Professionalization era
ERA 3: Bureaucratic era
ERA 4: Community Policing Era
ERA 5: Still being defined
ERA 1: The political era
Police officer were not trained or uneducated
No structure in operating procedures
People got fed up w this era saying there was corruption and wanted police officers to do their job correctly
ERA 2: Professionalization era
Proper training and thought out operational procedures were the key to
success
Many other majors were seen as valuable to police (biology, chemistry, etc.)
Start of standards
ERA 3: Bureaucratic era
Police organizations need to look like bureaucracies
Everything police officers needs to be supervised closely
There should be no discretion between officer of what they want to do instead they should do what they need to do and follow order
ERA 5: Still being defined
Centred around technology and AI
Eliminates some of the manual responses of police and replaced them with automated responses
ERA 4: Community Policing Era
Public was no longer okay with “machines” as officers
Wanted officers to show discretion and autonomy because they know the communities best and how to solve their problems
Believed officers specific to each community were better suited to their needs and desires
Build neighbourhood police offices and have the same police officers in specific neighbourhoods so they can get to know the entire community
6 Typological Approaches To Studying Policing
Officer Diversity
Community Policing
Patrol Strategy Diversity
Militancy
Technology
Staffing Rigor
Officer Diversity
Focuses on the demographic composition of the police force, examining how diversity in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, and other social categories impacts policing practices and public perception.
Key Points:
Emphasizes representation and inclusion within law enforcement agencies.
Investigates whether a diverse police force improves community relations and reduces biases.
Community Policing
Community-oriented police strategies (i.e. bikes)
Officers are more visible and accessible, using strategies such as foot patrols, bicycle patrols, and community outreach programs.
Aims to enhance problem-solving and crime prevention through community engagement.
Patrol Strategy Diversity
To include more community patrol strategies (bicycle patrol, walking patrol)
Seeks to increase police presence in a non-confrontational manner, making officers more approachable.
Militancy
Examines the militarization of police forces, where police use military-grade equipment and tactics.
Often linked to more forceful policing and is criticized for creating a tense and confrontational atmosphere between police and communities.
Technology
Studies the use of technological tools in law enforcement, such as body cameras, drones, predictive policing software, and surveillance systems.
Technology is used to enhance information gathering, communication, and operational efficiency.
Staffing Rigor
Looks at the rules and requirements for police officers, like training, certifications, and conduct standards.
Studies how things like training hours and discipline affect officer skills and behavior.
Considers how unions and strict rules shape police actions and decisions.
LEMAS survey
Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS)
By providing detailed data on staffing, policies, and operations, it supports evidence-based decision-making and helps track changes in police management and effectiveness over time. This makes it invaluable for researchers, policymakers, and law enforcement leaders aiming to improve public safety strategies.
Two Reasons for Police Convergence in 2013
Changes Across Space:
Sharing Policing Practices Globally: In 2013, countries started sharing more ideas and methods about how to police effectively, making police strategies more similar around the world. This happened because of international collaborations and learning from each other.
Changes Across Time:
More Use of Technology: Over time, police departments began using more technology like data analysis and surveillance tools. By 2013, many police forces had adopted these new methods, making their approaches more similar to each other.
Legitmacy
A property of an authority or institution that leads people to feel that (the) authority is entitled to be deferred to and obeyed
Instrumental model
The police gain acceptance when they are viewed by the public as maintaining:
Risk
Performance
Distributive Fairness
Risk
Creating credible, sanctioning threats for those who break the rules (risk of ticket when running red light)
Performance
Effectively controlling crime and criminal behaviour (police must be able to keep crime in check to gain acceptance)
Distributive Fairness
Fairly distributing police services across people and communities (gain acceptance when they are distributing police service fairly across communities)
Procedural Justice
Focuses on the treatment of people
Police perceived as fair -> police perceived as legitimate -> public cooperates with police
4 components
Voice
Neutrality
Dignity and respect
Trustworthy motives
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Voice
People are given the opportunity to express their views prior to police making a decision
Police genuinely consider the input from citizens before reaching such decision
“Give the public a voice”
Neutrality
Police consistently apply the law, make unbiased decisions, and are transparent as to how their decisions are made
During interactions, police explain why their interaction is unbiased, etc.
Explanations are key
Dignity and respect
Police speak politely during the encounter
Police show genuine respect for a person’s rights, regardless of social status
Police be courteous
Trustworthy motives
Motives are genuine and trustworthy
Police justify and account for conduct in ways that make clear their concern about giving attention to people’s needs
“The reason I pulled you over for speeding is because speeding is the #1 cause of road collisions”
Police officers should explain their motive for doing something
