Police Introduction

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Police - Introduction

• English roots
• Eras of American policing
• Organization of police
• Police styles and functions
• Police actions

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Early English PoliceThe Frankpledge 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).
• All males over the age of 12
• Tithing fined for non-performance

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The Constable 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.

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19th 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.

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Mandates of the Metropolitan Police Act

• Prevent crime without using repressive force.
• Maintain public order by nonviolent means.
• To reduce conflict between the public and the
  police.
• To show efficiency through the absence of crime.

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Policing Eras in the United States

• Political Era (1840-1920)
• Professional Era (1920-1970)
• Community Model Era (1970-Present)

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Political Era (1840-1920)

• Close ties between police and political machines
• Function as watchman keep troublesome classes
  under control
• Broad discretion for beat cops

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Professional Era (1920-1970)

• Progressive reform movement
• Two primary goals
• Break link between police and politics
• Make police more professional and improve
  services to poor

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Six Elements of Professional Policing

• The force should stay out of politics.
• Members should be well-trained, disciplined and
  tightly organized.
• Laws should be equally enforced.
• Forces should use new technology.
• Personnel procedures should be based on merit.
• The main task of policing is crime fighting.

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Community Oriented Policing

• Problem solving is best done at the neighborhood
  level, not in some distant headquarters. Locally
  situated police working with residents are a good
  problem-solving team.
• Broken windows thesis

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Organization of Police in the US

• Federal Agencies
• State
• County
• Municipal

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Styles of Policing

• Watchman style
• Legalistic style
• Service style

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POLICE FUNCTIONS

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Decisions on the Street Police Discretion
It is the police officer on the scene who must
define the situation, decide how to handle it,
and determine whether and how the law should
be applied. This is sometimes referred to as
police discretion. Four factors are especially
important in these decisions.
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Factors Effecting Street Decisions by the Police
Relationship between the alleged
criminal and the victim. The closer the
relationship, the more variable the use
of discretion.
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Factors Effecting Street Decisions by the Police
The relationship between the police and the
criminal or victim. A polite victim will be
taken more seriously than a hostile one. A
suspect who shows respect is less likely to be
arrested.
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Factors Effecting Street Decisions by the Police
Departmental policy. The chief of police and city
officials can create policies that will promote
more or less discretion.
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Domestic Dispute Policy

• Change in policy
• Results of studies vary
• Threat of lawsuits

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Quick Check
1. ___ are responsible for many crimes that cross
state lines.
Federal law enforcement agencies
2. ___ emphasizes strict enforcement of all laws.
Legalistic style policing
3. ___ constitutes the contemporary era in
American policing history that seeks to reconnect
police officers with citizens.
Community model era
4. ___ emphasizes that fear of crime grows from
disorder in society.
Broken windows thesis