Police and Society A Question of Attitude Studies show people’s attitudes towards the police shaped by their contact with police Positive contacts = positive attitudes Negative contacts = negative attitudes Large divide based on race in attitudes towards police 85 % of whites surveyed have a favorable attitude toward police, while 58% of blacks surveyed have unfavorable attitude Largely due to perception that police harass minorities Misperceptions from a young age Young children think police give orders and punish people, don’t think about the police helping people or enforcing laws Research also says young people focus on the power of the police

Police and Society II. The Police Today More than 40,000 independent law-enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of government Range in size from one-person departments in rural areas to almost 40,000 officers on New York City’s force, the largest in the nation More than ¾ of all law enforcement officers work for local police departments

Police and Society II. The Police Today (continued) B. Responsibilities Fight crime Settle disputes Handle many forms of social work Monitor public protests Control traffic Respond to medical emergencies C. Problems/Dangers Increase in availability of dangerous weapons More critical news media More critical general public Budgetary problems, including a lack of funds to hire enough officers

Police and Society III. Local Police Most large departments divided into different units Operations Unit Patrols street Investigates crime Services Unit Supports operations unit Trains officers, keeps records, maintains equipment, runs crime labs Administration Unit Manages payroll, personnel, and finances Internal Affairs Unit Polices the police Investigates any reports of wrongdoing by police officers Community Outreach unit Works on improving police-community relations

Police and Society III. Local Police (continued) B. Special Divisions Patrol Uniformed officers; patrol streets, keep peace in assigned area, respond when a crime or emergency is reported Main responsibilities Law enforcement Maintain order Service

Police and Society III. Local Police (continued) 2. Detectives Don’t necessarily outrank patrol officers, but have more prestige, get paid more, have more flexible hours, and work in plainclothes Strictly involved in law enforcement If suspect is arrested, detectives help prepare the case for prosecution 3. Traffic a. Enforce traffic law investigate accidents, keep traffic moving 4. Juvenile Officers in this unit undergo special training in dealing with juveniles and laws relating to them

Police and Society III. Local Police (continued) Requirements All departments require a high school education, many require college Usually a minimum age of 21 Good physical condition No criminal record Pass an entrance exam, drug test, mental fitness tests, and physical strength/agility tests Typically a fairly low-paying job Average starting salary is $23,000, top salary around $50,000 But usually overtime opportunities and good pensions.

Police and Society IV. Community Policing In 1950s, police came to rely heavily on technology (squad cars, radios, etc.); primary responsibility was responding to emergency calls Fewer police officers was cheaper Some though beat cops had too much opportunity to become corrupt System called PROACTIVE POLICING Relied on radio to direct cruising police cars to calls Most officers had little contact with community

Police and Society IV. Community Policing (continued) B. By 1980s many people criticized proactive policing, wanted new system that would keep officers continually visible in area, not just responding to calls C. New system = COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING In strong neighborhoods, people care about what happens Citizens do much of the “patrolling”

Police and Society IV. Community Policing (continued) 2. “Broken Windows” theory Says police should find out what bothers the community and fix these problems Often seemingly unimportant things (graffiti, panhandlers, drunks on the corner, etc.) Explained with example of car left on a street with a broken window If car left in this condition, other windows will be broken Soon car will be torn apart Similarly, violent behavior, if ignored, leads to more and more violent behavior People view neighborhood as out of control, and stop going out – neighborhood taken over by drug dealers, prostitutes, etc.

Police and Society IV. Community Policing (continued) Problem-oriented policing Stress problem solving Don’t just respond to incidents D. Criticisms of community-oriented policing Communities have to make choice: can have police respond rapidly to a crime, or can have community policing, but can’t have both (too expensive) Some feel community policing is too much like social work, and takes away from what they view as the real job of police – making arrests and solving crimes