Police: Agents of Law and Order
Police: Agents of Law and Order
© 2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.
Chapter 4Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:
A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool
Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi
SUNY Brockport
Chapter 4Introduction to Criminal Justice 2003:
A Microsoft® PowerPoint® Tool
Slides prepared by:Larry Bassi
SUNY Brockport
Early English Police:The Tithing System
Early English Police:The Tithing System
• Families banded together for protection.
• People raised the “hue and cry” to warn others of trouble and to pursue criminals.
• Tithings were formed (10 families).
• Ten tithings banded together to form a hundred supervised by a constable.
• Hundreds banded together to form shires supervised by the shire reeve.
• Families banded together for protection.
• People raised the “hue and cry” to warn others of trouble and to pursue criminals.
• Tithings were formed (10 families).
• Ten tithings banded together to form a hundred supervised by a constable.
• Hundreds banded together to form shires supervised by the shire reeve.
The Watch System: 13th CenturyThe Watch System: 13th Century
• More formal than the pledge system.
• Employed watchmen to protect property against fire and robbery.
• Justice of the peace established and given judicial duties.
• Constables served as assistants to justices of the peace.
• More formal than the pledge system.
• Employed watchmen to protect property against fire and robbery.
• Justice of the peace established and given judicial duties.
• Constables served as assistants to justices of the peace.
18th Century English Policing18th Century English Policing
• Industrial revolution takes place and crime dramatically increases.
• London experiments with different kinds of policing.
• In 1829, the Metropolitan Police Act (MPA) is passed in Parliament while Sir Robert Peel is home secretary.
• The MPA creates the first organized police force of over 1,000 men.
• Industrial revolution takes place and crime dramatically increases.
• London experiments with different kinds of policing.
• In 1829, the Metropolitan Police Act (MPA) is passed in Parliament while Sir Robert Peel is home secretary.
• The MPA creates the first organized police force of over 1,000 men.
Fundamental Principles of the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829Fundamental Principles of the
Metropolitan Police Act of 1829
19th Century American Policing19th Century American Policing
• Development of police agencies prompted by mob violence.
• Gentry feared restlessness of the underclass.
• Gin became a major substance abuse problem.
• Fear of urban street crime produced demands for greater police protection.
• Development of police agencies prompted by mob violence.
• Gentry feared restlessness of the underclass.
• Gin became a major substance abuse problem.
• Fear of urban street crime produced demands for greater police protection.
19th Century American Policing19th Century American Policing
• Police were incompetent, disliked and corrupt.
• Primary functions were to:– serve as enforcement powers for reigning
political powers– protect private property– control the rising number of foreign
immigrants
• Police were incompetent, disliked and corrupt.
• Primary functions were to:– serve as enforcement powers for reigning
political powers– protect private property– control the rising number of foreign
immigrants
20th Century American Policing20th Century American Policing
• Technological advancements– telegraph boxes, motorcycles and police cars
• Local, state and federal crime commissions• Public concern about police corruption led to
reform efforts
• Technological advancements– telegraph boxes, motorcycles and police cars
• Local, state and federal crime commissions• Public concern about police corruption led to
reform efforts
Major movements in policing:Major movements in policing:
POLICEPOLICEPROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
POLICEPOLICEPROFESSIONALISMPROFESSIONALISM
The first professional police organization, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) was formed in 1893. It was the leading voice in police reform during the first two decades of the twentieth century.
The first professional police organization, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) was formed in 1893. It was the leading voice in police reform during the first two decades of the twentieth century.
20th Century Reform20th Century Reform
Professional Model of PolicingProfessional Model of Policing
A style of policing advocated by August Vollmer and O.W.Wilson that emphasizes:– Centralized police organizations– Increased use of technology– Limitation of police discretion through
regulations and guidelines
A style of policing advocated by August Vollmer and O.W.Wilson that emphasizes:– Centralized police organizations– Increased use of technology– Limitation of police discretion through
regulations and guidelines
Policing in the 1970sPolicing in the 1970s
• Emphasis on good police-community relationships.
• Federal assistance to local and state agencies to fight the war on crime.
• Recruitment and promotion of women and minorities increased.
• Emphasis on good police-community relationships.
• Federal assistance to local and state agencies to fight the war on crime.
• Recruitment and promotion of women and minorities increased.
Municipal PoliceMunicipal Police
• Have majority of personnel
• NYPD is largest• Large & small
departments have same functions
• Average cost per officer per year is about $63,000
• Have majority of personnel
• NYPD is largest• Large & small
departments have same functions
• Average cost per officer per year is about $63,000
County Law EnforcementCounty Law Enforcement
• Either the County Sheriff’s Department (most common) or County Police Department
• Responsible for:– law enforcement– local corrections (jail)– civil law authority– court-related duties
• Either the County Sheriff’s Department (most common) or County Police Department
• Responsible for:– law enforcement– local corrections (jail)– civil law authority– court-related duties
The Functions of Sheriffs’ and Local Police Departments
The Functions of Sheriffs’ and Local Police Departments
State Police AgenciesState Police Agencies
• Texas Rangers was one of the first state agencies formed.
• Responsible for:– Highway safety– Law enforcement in various
areas– Technical support to other
agencies
• Texas Rangers was one of the first state agencies formed.
• Responsible for:– Highway safety– Law enforcement in various
areas– Technical support to other
agencies
Federal Law EnforcementFederal Law Enforcement
• Numerous agencies, found in a variety of departments of federal government.
• No single agency has unlimited jurisdiction.
• Most agencies have primarily investigative functions.
• Function of each agency is determined by specific laws.
• Numerous agencies, found in a variety of departments of federal government.
• No single agency has unlimited jurisdiction.
• Most agencies have primarily investigative functions.
• Function of each agency is determined by specific laws.
U. S. Department of JusticeU. S. Department of Justice
• Headed by the U. S. Attorney General and is empowered to:– enforce all federal laws– represent the U.S. in court actions– conduct independent investigations through
its law enforcement services, e.g. FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals
• Headed by the U. S. Attorney General and is empowered to:– enforce all federal laws– represent the U.S. in court actions– conduct independent investigations through
its law enforcement services, e.g. FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals
U.S. Treasury DepartmentU.S. Treasury Department
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms– Controls sale of untaxed liquor and cigarettes and
illegal sales, importation & criminal misuses of firearms and explosives.
• Internal Revenue Service– Enforces violations of income, excise, stamp and
other tax laws. Often involved with a variety of types of crimes from a tax “point of view.”
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms– Controls sale of untaxed liquor and cigarettes and
illegal sales, importation & criminal misuses of firearms and explosives.
• Internal Revenue Service– Enforces violations of income, excise, stamp and
other tax laws. Often involved with a variety of types of crimes from a tax “point of view.”
U.S. Treasury DepartmentU.S. Treasury Department
• U.S. Customs Service– Guards points of entry into the U.S. and prevents
smuggling of contraband into and out of the country.
• U. S. Secret Service– Enforces laws against counterfeiting– Protects the President, VP and others– Maintains the White House Police Force
• U.S. Customs Service– Guards points of entry into the U.S. and prevents
smuggling of contraband into and out of the country.
• U. S. Secret Service– Enforces laws against counterfeiting– Protects the President, VP and others– Maintains the White House Police Force
Private Policing and SecurityPrivate Policing and Security
• Hallcrest Report– By the year 2000, there will be 750,000
contract guards and 410,000 proprietary security forces
• Recommendations:– upgrade employee quality– create statewide regulatory bodies– mandatory personnel training– transferring some police functions
• Hallcrest Report– By the year 2000, there will be 750,000
contract guards and 410,000 proprietary security forces
• Recommendations:– upgrade employee quality– create statewide regulatory bodies– mandatory personnel training– transferring some police functions
Why the Security Industry Has Grown
Why the Security Industry Has Grown
• An increase in fear on the part of the public combined with a growing crime rate
• Problems of crime in the work place• Budget cuts in states and cities that have
resulted in few officers on the streets• A new perception of private security services as
cost effective protection measures
• An increase in fear on the part of the public combined with a growing crime rate
• Problems of crime in the work place• Budget cuts in states and cities that have
resulted in few officers on the streets• A new perception of private security services as
cost effective protection measures
The Changing Role of PoliceThe Changing Role of Police
Increased need tobe fiscally responsible.
Increased need tobe fiscally responsible.New kinds of law to
enforce and crimesto investigate.
New kinds of law toenforce and crimesto investigate.
Increased useof civiliansin various positions.
Increased useof civiliansin various positions.
Decentralization of some police services and increased sensitivity to community needs.
Decentralization of some police services and increased sensitivity to community needs.
Discretionary Behavior Discretionary Behavior
Police judgement is necessary in many situations that they face.While some guidance can be provided to them
through standard operating procedures, general and specific orders, it is impossible to predict all the variables
that may need to be analyzed before deciding on a course of action.
In general, courts have recognized that a patrol officer is in a unique position to be allowed discretionary powers:
In general, courts have recognized that a patrol officer is in a unique position to be allowed discretionary powers:
The Causes and Consequences of
High-Speed Pursuits
The Causes and Consequences of
High-Speed Pursuits
Domestic Disturbances and Discretion
Domestic Disturbances and Discretion
Minneapolis Experiment(slide 1 of 2)
Minneapolis Experiment(slide 1 of 2)
1. Experiment where police response to minor domestic disturbances was randomly determined. Possible responses were:
• Arrest• Mediate• Separate domestic partners
1. Experiment where police response to minor domestic disturbances was randomly determined. Possible responses were:
• Arrest• Mediate• Separate domestic partners
Minneapolis Experiment(slide 2 of 2)
Minneapolis Experiment(slide 2 of 2)
2. Findings: Arrested persons were 50% less likely to repeat behavior than those not arrested.
3. Replication studies did not not necessarily find the same results. In some cases, arrested suspects become more likely to repeat.
2. Findings: Arrested persons were 50% less likely to repeat behavior than those not arrested.
3. Replication studies did not not necessarily find the same results. In some cases, arrested suspects become more likely to repeat.
Domestic Disturbances and Discretion
Domestic Disturbances and Discretion
Figure 4.8 Limiting Police Discretion: Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence
Figure 4.8 Limiting Police Discretion: Mandatory Arrest for Domestic Violence
Guided Discretion - Providing options Guided Discretion - Providing options
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges have provided a Model State Code to guide police officers in cases of domestic violence. The Code suggests that police take all reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further violence including:
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges have provided a Model State Code to guide police officers in cases of domestic violence. The Code suggests that police take all reasonable means to protect the victim and prevent further violence including:
•Confiscating any weapon involved in the violence•Making sure that victims and children are transported to a shelter including taking them •Assisting the victim in removing any personal items from the residence•Assisting the victim in getting medical assistance including if necessary, transporting them to help•Giving the victim immediate and comprehensive information of their rights and possible remedies
Gun ControlGun Control
Controversies– Does gun control
reduce gun crime?
– Is gun control a form of unconstitutional control over citizens
– Are guns a part of our cultures?
Controversies– Does gun control
reduce gun crime?
– Is gun control a form of unconstitutional control over citizens
– Are guns a part of our cultures?