0131389033 ppt04

CJ 2011James A. Fagin

Chapter 4:

Roles and Functions of the Police


© 2011 Pearson Higher Education,Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. • All Rights Reserved.2

After completion of this chapter, students should be able to:

Describe the historical development of American policing Explain how jurisdiction relates to contemporary policing Identify the major federal and state law enforcement agencies Be familiar with the hiring and training process for police

officers Be able to discuss various social factors that influence policing

strategies

Pearson Education, Inc. © 2010



Parliament passes the London Metropolitan Police Act in 1829

Established first full-time paid police force Sir Robert Peel known as the ‘Father of

Modern Policing’ Peel’s officers called ‘Bobbies’



Early American police modeled after the London Metropolitan Police

A distinct characteristic of American policing is that thousands of police agencies have their own jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of policing can be divided into: Federal Agencies State Police Agencies Local police



3 different types of federal agencies: Military Police Native American Tribal Police Civilian Police



Perform law enforcement duties on military bases, federal lands, and in cases involving military personnel

Each branch of the military service has its own criminal justice system, including courts and correctional institutions

Based upon the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)



Each Native American reservation has the legal authority to establish its own tribal police

Research suggests Native American reservations have been neglected by the U.S. criminal justice system

Their rate of violent victimizations is more than twice the rate as that for the nation as a whole



U.S. Marshals Service U.S. Secret Service Federal Bureau of Investigations Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Drug Enforcement Administration



Highway patrols focus on traffic enforcement and safety

Investigate criminal activities, especially in municipalities or counties that be biased toward the case

All states have an agency with the exception of Hawaii



Oldest policing authority in the United States

Chief law enforcement officer of the county

Typically elected to a four-year term

Responsibilities include: law enforcement, court service and protection, and jail operations



Most visible with over 12,000 municipal police departments

Chief of Police appointed by a mayor, city council, or a police commission

Chief does not have civil service job protection

Budget for a department is one of a city's largest expenses



Special police have limited jurisdiction both in geographic and police powers

Includes: airport police park police transit police public school police college and university police public housing police game wardens



Police applicants are examined on: Written test Screened for criminal and driving records Physical agility test Psychological examination Drug screen testing Polygraph (in some states)



Those passing selection process attend a ‘police academy’ for up to 1,100 hours of training

After graduation recruits are assigned to a ‘field-training program’ up to 1 year on a probationary period



Community Policing: Focus on decentralized strategies that promote

crime prevention rather than rapid response Focus on promoting the quality of life in a

community rather than solely law enforcement Use of alternatives other than arrest and force

to solve the cause of problems



Problem-Oriented: Increase effectiveness by attacking underlying

problems that cause incidents that consume patrol time

Relies on expertise of line officers to study problems and develop solutions

Closer involvement with public to ensure the police are addressing their needs



Broken Window Theory: belief that ignoring public order violations leads to community neglect, which in turn breeds crime

Zero-Tolerance Strategy: strict police enforcement of the laws, even for minor violations



Effectiveness is still not well documented

Popular with the public

May have little impact on crime rates

Does reduce citizen’s fear of crime

0131389033 ppt04

Education

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