Introduction to Criminal Justice 2002 Unit 4 Police: History, Structure and Role

Slides Prepared by: Larry Bassi SUNY College at Brockport Modified by: Hal Nees Metropolitan State College of Denver

2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Early English Police: The Pledge 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.

Unit 4 - 2

The 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.

Unit 4 - 3

18th 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.

Unit 4 - 4

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.

Unit 4 - 5

American Colonial Experience

County Sheriff was the most important law enforcement person.

Investigated complaints Ran the jail Collected taxes, supervised elections

Town marshal, aided by others, was responsible for urban areas. Vigilante groups used to eradicate some social problems.

Unit 4 - 6

19th 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.

Unit 4 - 7

19th 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

Unit 4 - 8

20th Century American Policing Major movements in policing:

Technological advancements

telegraph boxes, motorcycles and police cars

Local, state and federal crime commissions Public concern about police corruption led to reform efforts

Unit 4 - 9

20th Century Reform

POLICE PROFESSIONALISM
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.
Unit 4 - 10

The Professional Era in American Policing

Expert officers Autonomous departments No external political influence Self-ruling departments Administrative efficiency Impartial, uniform enforcement of law

Unit 4 - 11

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.

Unit 4 - 12

Policing the 1960s and Change

Civil unrest and Vietnam Growing crime rates Supreme Court decisions Desire for more educated officers

Unit 4 - 13

Policing 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.

Unit 4 - 14

Policing the 1980s

Concepts of community and problem oriented policing emerged. Police unions grew. Governments faced fiscal constraints and forced budget cutbacks in policing. Riots and brutality claims led to an examination of traditional police practices and role.
Unit 4 - 15

17,000 Law Enforcement Agencies in the United States Today

3,088 sheriffs departments 13,578 municipal police agencies 1,316 special police forces 49 state police 50 federal law enforcement agencies 135 Native American tribal police agencies

Unit 4 - 16

Municipal Police

Have majority of personnel NYPD is largest Large & small departments have same functions

Unit 4 - 17

County Law Enforcement

Either the County Sheriffs Department (most common) or County Police Department Responsible for:

law enforcement local corrections (jail) civil law authority court-related duties

Unit 4 - 18

State 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

Unit 4 - 19

Federal 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.

Unit 4 - 20

U. 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

Unit 4 - 21

U.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. 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.

Internal Revenue Service

Unit 4 - 22

U.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. Enforces laws against counterfeiting Protects the President, VP and others Maintains the White House Police Force
Unit 4 - 23

U. S. Secret Service

Fundamental Questions About How Police are Organized in the U. S.

Do all communities in America deserve the same kind and level of police service? Would it be more efficient to have fewer small and more large police departments?

Are there too many police agencies in America?

Can all police departments achieve professional competency?
Unit 4 - 24

Municipal Police Agencies

The greatest number of police agencies in America are found at the municipal level and all share the same basic goals. Law Enforcement

Order Maintenance

Community Service

Unit 4 - 25

Watchman Style
Nonbureaucratic, informal style of policing Officers focus on caretaking and maintaining order Discretionary decision-making is common

Unit 4 - 26

Legalistic Style

Emphasizes: Formal criminal law enforcement Reduction of discretionary decisionmaking

Unit 4 - 27

Service Style
Can I Help You?

Takes requests for service seriously regardless of what they stem from, e.g. providing information or criminal activity

Unit 4 - 28

How Much Trust Do You Have for the Police?

Unit 4 - 29

The Changing Role of Police

Increased use of civilians in various positions.

Decentralization of some police services and increased sensitivity to community needs. New kinds of law to enforce and crimes to investigate.

Increased need to be fiscally responsible.

Unit 4 - 30

Technological Changes
Increased use of DNA profiling
Exploiting new communication technologies Use of new scientific applications in all phases of investigation
Unit 4 - 31

The Use of Computerized Mapping in Crime Control. A section of a San Diego Police Department Unit DMAP shows narcotic arrests for December 1991.

Computer-generated Composites for Identifying Suspects

Private Policing and Security

Hallcrest Report

By the year 2000, there will be 750,000 contract guards and 410,000 proprietary security forces
upgrade employee quality create statewide regulatory bodies mandatory personnel training transferring some police functions

Recommendations:

Unit 4 - 34

Private Security versus Law Enforcement (Employment and Spending)

The End

2002 Wadsworth Publishing Co.