CJS/241 : Introduction to Police Theory and Practices

1. CJS/241: Introduction to Police Theory and Practices Week 1 Presentation

2. Foundation • Although this is not a history class, to understand police theory and practice we must understand the history of the police in the United States. • We got to this point in time somehow, and it is important to understand why.

3. Colonial Law Enforcement • As long as there has been civilization there has been some form of law enforcement. • Therefore before the United States was a country, there was law enforcement. • Sheriff • Multifactorial duties including enforcing the law, collecting taxes, and monitoring elections. Appointed by governor. • Constable • Also appointed position, had similar but more limited duties than the Sheriff did. • Watch • Essentially what you would think of as today’s police (in terms of their duties and function).

4. Post Colonial America: Three Eras of Policing • Political Era- 1830s to 1900 • Professional Era- 1900 to 1960s • Era of Conflicting Pressures: 1960s to Present

5. Political Era

6. Political Era • In contrast to era that followed, this era was non-professional • Plagued by corruption, lack of training, and no standards • Jobs were truly political in the sense of the term • Often all officers were fired when a new mayor was elected • Officers were hired based upon their political connections and not on their qualifications • This led to many problems… • Imagine that this were the system today: What kind of problems would it cause?

7. Patrolling in the Political Era • Due to the technology (or lack thereof) that existed at the time, patrols were hopeless. • Most were foot patrols; therefore no matter how many officers, people were spread thin • Without modern day communication citizens could not report crime AND officers could easily evade their duty

8. Police and Public Relations in the Political Era • With a combination of high turnover, corruption, and lack of sense of duty, relations were not good. • Historical studies show that there was a high use of excessive force. • Often the enforcement, or non-enforcement, of laws depended on whether or not you had the money to pay off the police. • Perhaps the legacy of this era is the impact it had on the following era and the reforms that came with it.

9. The Professional Era

10. The Professional Era • How and why did change occur? • 1) Large-scale organized movement for change • 2) Technological advances, most importantly the telephone and the patrol car • The changes that followed were revolutionary in every sense of the term: policing became defined as a profession, the separation of politics and policing ensued (thereby reducing corruption), the appointment of executives (police chiefs) was instituted, hiring standards and pre-service training introduced, command and control structures were instituted, and specific enforcement units were created.

11. The Professional Era: A Proverbial Double Edged Sword • Most of the reforms that were introduced remain to this day • These reforms also had unintended consequences that have only become, in many people’s view, more troublesome over time. • Command and Control structures introduced a military mindset; now known as the militarization of the police force, over time some police departments resemble mini-armies that possess weapons and gear also found on the battlefield. • As with any profession a subculture followed; this reinforced and mirrored many of the problems that were seen (and continue to be seen) in terms of racial tensions between the police and society.

12. The Professional Era and Technology • Patrol Car • Allowed for officers to be able to cover much wider beats • Also removed officers from having informal contact with those who were not breaking the law; these people were (and remain) essential in being able to enforce the law and build relationships with the community • Telephone/Two Way Radio • Allowed for rapid reporting of crimes and rapid response to crimes • For the first time provided a means of real-time supervision of police officers thereby increasing the productivity

13. The 1960s • Brought about many changes to the way police practice • Essentially the 1960s formed a basis for all of the issues that we find in policing in the present day, including: • Public perception of police use of excessive force • Racial relations post-civil rights era • Supreme Court intervention • The War on Crime, leading to our present day system of high incarceration rates, arrest rates, and what some argue is the “over-criminalization” of America • Citizen oversight • Research of police action and behavior

14. Era of Conflicting Pressures

15. Era of Conflicting Pressures • Consider this: • From whom or where do these conflicting pressures come from? • In terms of the present day what are some of the most longstanding and problematic conflicting pressures locally? Nationally?

16. What does a police officer look like? • There used to be only one answer to this question: white and male. • While that is still largely true, starting in the 1970s we have seen police departments integrated racially and the introduction of the female police officer. • Where are we lacking? Openly gay police officers? What is the culture of the police department when gay men are not around? When women are not in the room?

17. Use of Force Protocol • Arguably the most important reform that has been introduced, especially when it comes to controlling the use of deadly force • Believe it or not up until the 1960s the existence of written polices and procedures was rare • Not only deadly force, but interrogation, search and seizure, and more recently high-speed pursuits and domestic violence

18. Modern day • Post 9/11 a renewed debate regarding civil liberties and law enforcement • Racial Profiling • Justice Department (federal) intervention in local police matters through civil rights lawsuits • And…..?

19. Modern day Post 9/11 a renewed debate regarding civil liberties and law enforcement Racial Profiling Justice Department (federal) intervention in local police matters through civil rights lawsuits And…..?