1 / 17

The Functions of Police . . .

The Functions of Police. Egon Bittner. Huh?. The abandonment of the norm-derivative approach to the definition of the role of the police in modern society immediately directs attention to a level of social reality that is unrelated the ideal formulations. Characteristics of the Police.

tiger-gonzales
Download Presentation

The Functions of Police . . .

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Functions of Police . . . Egon Bittner

  2. Huh? • The abandonment of the norm-derivative approach to the definition of the role of the police in modern society immediately directs attention to a level of social reality that is unrelated the ideal formulations.

  3. Characteristics of the Police • 1. Police Work is a tainted occupation • “No amount of public relations work can entirely abolish the sense that there is something of the dragon in the dragon-slayer • They inflict harm in the natural course of their duties • Society looks down on the police

  4. 2. Police work is not merely a tainted occupation ... It’s worse than that even! • The police are always opposed to some articulable human interest • Policemen hazard violating their duty by letting generosity or respect for appearances govern their decisions • The need to disregard complexity is structurally built into the occupation • Police work is doomed to be often unjust & offensive to someone • IT’S CRUDE

  5. 3.Police work, by virtue of distribution, is socially divisive • Some people receive extensive police scrutiny because of social class, race, or geographical location • Police are not merely like everyone else, but more so…there are statistical probabilities that impact thinking • “Upper class” people expect deferential treatment from the police

  6. Based on ideals about what the police do and are Formal, legal inference Does not admit that the police may not be oriented to the normative objectives Based on reality of what the police do and are Informal, common-sense, practicality Leaves open the possibility that the police may not be oriented to the normative objectives Normative v. Characteristics

  7. Cultural Background of Police • The police were the last basic block in the structure of modern executive government to be developed • 1700’s violent crime exists, but people resist the idea of the police • 1820’s violent crime explodes, advocates for the police gain support • Urban riots quelled by military results in many deaths • Cultural changes

  8. Cultural Changes in Society • Aspire to abolish violence & install peace as a stable & permanent condition in everyday life • Material progress & enterprise were valued more than masculine prowess and combative chivalry

  9. The Quest for Peace • Diplomatic consultations failed, but we continued to rely on them…i.e. UN • Compliance w/ govt. based less on the threat of force & more on voluntary compliance • Changes in the criminal justice system…i.e. punishment v. rehabilitation

  10. Changes in Private Life • We don’t generally carry swords, daggers, guns to conduct business • It’s no longer acceptable to use physical force to defend one’s honor or to gain respect • Interpersonal violence is viewed negatively, even criminally • We suppress, conceal, or deny matters that deal with violence

  11. Bittner’s main point is that the trend toward the achievement of peace is basically new in Western history, even as we admit that it is continuously in danger of being overwhelmed by counter-tendencies. • The tendency toward peace is based not on in spirituality, but on practicality… the realization that violence is a foolish way to resolve problems

  12. The Means of Achieving Peace • We want to achieve peace through peaceful means, as opposed to by force • International diplomacy to avoid war • Administration of Justice w/o violence • We’d like to eliminate all forms of violence,even when required to meet attacks

  13. Legitimate Uses of Force • Self-defense • Deputies v. Special population • Prison guards v. inmates • Mental hospital attendant v. patient • Police use of force

  14. A mechanism for the distribution of situationally justified force • Fits w/ the actual expectations & demands made of the police • It gives a better account of the allocation of manpower & resources • It lends thematic unity to all kinds of police activities

  15. The police are a mechanism for the distribution of non-negotiable coercive force employed in accordance with the dictates of an intuitive grasp of situational exigencies

  16. The Moral Problem • How can we arrive at a favorable or even accepting judgment about the police when their very function (i.e the distribution of force) is opposed to the ethos of the people who design it?

  17. Military virtues The targets of force are enemies Absolute obedience to the mission There is a greater good (i.e world peace) Public Trust The targets of force are practical objectives Prudence, considered judgment are required in each case Personal responsibility How can society solve this?

More Related