Chapter 5 - Problems and Solutions in Modern Policing

Question 1

policy

Answer 1

a set of guiding principles designed to influence the behavior and decision making of police officers

Question 2

domestic violence

Answer 2

the act of willful neglect or physical violence that occurs within a familial or other intimate relationship

Question 3

mandatory arrest law

Answer 3

requires a police officer to detain a person for committing a certain type of crime as long as there is probable cause that he or she committed the crime

Question 4

bureaucracy

Answer 4

a hierarchically structured administrative organization that carries out specific functions

Question 5

delegation of authority

Answer 5

the principles of command on which most police departments are based, in which personnel take orders from and are responsible to those in positions of power directly above them

Question 6

detective

Answer 6

the primary police investigator of crimes

Question 7

Confidential Informant (CI)

Answer 7

a human source for police who provides information concerning illegal activity in which he or she is involved

Question 8

domestic terrorism

Answer 8

acts of terrorism that take place within the territorial jurisdiction of the U.S. without direct foreign involvement

Question 9

clearance rate

Answer 9

a comparison of the number of crimes cleared by arrest and prosecution with the number of crimes reported during any given time period

Question 10

cold case

Answer 10

a criminal investigation that has not been solved after a certain amount of time

Question 11

forensics

Answer 11

the application of science to establish facts and evidence during the investigation of crimes

Question 12

trace evidence

Answer 12

evidence such as fingerprint, blood, or hair found in small amounts at a crime scene

Question 13

ballistics

Answer 13

the study of firearms, including the firing of the weapon and the flight of the bullet

Question 14

DNA fingerprinting

Answer 14

the identification of a person based on a sample of her or his DNA, the genetic material found in the cells of all living things

Question 15

cold hit

Answer 15

the establishment of a connection between a suspect and a crime often through the use of DNA evidence, in the absence of an ongoing criminal investigation

Question 16

incident-driven policing

Answer 16

a reactive approach to policing that emphasizes a speedy response to calls for service

Question 17

random patrol

Answer 17

a patrol strategy that relies on police officers monitoring a certain area with the goal of detecting crimes in progress or preventing crime due to their presence. Also known as general of preventive patrol

Question 18

directed patrol

Answer 18

a patrol strategy that is designed to focus on a specific type of criminal activity at a specific time

Question 19

hot spots

Answer 19

concentrated areas of high criminal activity that draw a directed police response

Question 20

crime mapping

Answer 20

technology that allows crime analysts to identify trends and patterns of criminal behavior within a given area

Question 21

reactive arrests

Answer 21

arrests that come about as part of the ordinary routine of police patrol and responses to calls for service

Question 22

proactive arrests

Answer 22

arrests that occur because of concerted efforts by law enforcement agencies to respond to a particular type of criminal or criminal behavior

Question 23

broken windows theory

Answer 23

Wilson and Kelling’s theory that law enforcement should crack down on quality-of-life crimes to reduce overall crime

Question 24

community policing

Answer 24

a policing philosophy that emphasizes community support for and cooperation with the police in preventing crime

Question 25

problem-oriented policing

Answer 25

a policing philosophy that requires police to identify potential criminal activity and develop strategies to prevent or respond to that activity

Question 26

police subculture

Answer 26

the values and perceptions that are shared by law enforcement agents

Question 27

socialization

Answer 27

the process through which a police officer is taught the values and expected behavior of the police subculture

Question 28

blue curtain

Answer 28

a metaphorical term used to refer to the value place on secrecy and the general mistrust of the outside world shared by many police officers

Question 29

stressors

Answer 29

the aspects of police work and life that lead to feelings of stress

Question 30

burnout

Answer 30

a mental state that occurs when a person suffers from exhaustion and has difficulty functioning normally as a result of overwork and stress

Question 31

reasonable force

Answer 31

the degree of force that is appropriate to protect the police officer and other citizens and is not excessive

Question 32

deadly force

Answer 32

force applied by a police officer that is likely or intended to cause death

Question 33

police corruption

Answer 33

the abuse of authority by a law enforcement officer for personal gain

Question 34

noble cause corruption

Answer 34

knowing misconduct by a police officer with the goal of attaining what the officer believes is a “just” result

Question 35

duty

Answer 35

the moral sense of a police officer that she or he should behave in a certain manner