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Police systems and practices: An introduction
298
Current PublicationsAbstracts
use of force, terror, or bribery to create or maintain the interests of an institution for the destruction of another group. There are two main categories that identify public order crimes: disorderly and victimless crimes. Public drunkenness, vagrancy, and loitering are examples of disorderly offenses. Victimless crimes include such offenses as drug abuse and prostitution. Crimes associated with criminal organizations include drug trafficking, gambling, loan sharking, and labor racketeering. Section five reviews the main components of the criminal justice system. A discussion of the role of the police, a history of modern law enforcement, and the difficulty law enforcement agencies face in combating crime are presented. Also included is a discussion of the adjudication process. The authors offer a description of the court system and the role its components (prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges) have. This section also examines the correctional component of crime. Corrections focuses on the programs, services, and facilities responsible for rehabilitating those who have been accused or convicted of a criminal offense. The final section of this book is concerned with world crime trends and the international criminal justice system. The authors believe that exchanging ideas and solutions may allow us to meet the challenges of an ever changing world. An international exchange will establish useful theories and special insights as to what works and what does not work in crime prevention.
Police Systems and Practices: An Introduction by Thomas Barker, Ronald D. Hunter, and Jeffrey P. Rush
Prentice Hall, Inc. (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632), 1994, 354 pp., hardcover$50.00. The authors provide a basic discussion of the people, systems, practices, and problems of law enforcement intended for entry-level
students in the United States. The text is clearly presented and well referenced. The text would assist international readers interested in an introduction to police practices in the United States. The first part of this book is an introduction to the rest of the book. It explains who the police are, where they are located, and how many officers there are. This part also addresses the role of the police in the criminal justice system. To aid in understanding today's law enforcement agencies, the authors provide a historical account of the development of policing. The evolution of law enforcement is reviewed, beginning with prehistoric times and extending through the development. of small town and big city enforcement, state policing, federal investigations, and private policing. The second part focuses on local/municipal level policing. The authors examine the roles of police at the street level and how they vary by community and police organization. The examination of the police role has centered on three models: crime control, order maintenance, and service. This part also stresses the importance of administrating a police organization. Police organization is important for the direction of the department and for basic law enforcement. Police agencies can be divided into categories when discussing staff support. These include full service, partially independent, and dependent agencies. Support staff includes those individuals involved in dispatch, records, recruitment, and training. The staff unit exists to support the patrol and investigations aspect of law enforcement. The third part of this book looks at police professionalism, policing in the community, and the future of policing. The authors identify some of the unethical activities police officers may become involved in. These include drug use, brutality, sexual misconduct, and shakedowns. Police in the United States will continue to change as society changes. The authors believe the role of the police will continue to evolve, but crime fighting will receive less emphasis because of a more integrated approach to public service.
Current PublicationsAbstracts
use of force, terror, or bribery to create or maintain the interests of an institution for the destruction of another group. There are two main categories that identify public order crimes: disorderly and victimless crimes. Public drunkenness, vagrancy, and loitering are examples of disorderly offenses. Victimless crimes include such offenses as drug abuse and prostitution. Crimes associated with criminal organizations include drug trafficking, gambling, loan sharking, and labor racketeering. Section five reviews the main components of the criminal justice system. A discussion of the role of the police, a history of modern law enforcement, and the difficulty law enforcement agencies face in combating crime are presented. Also included is a discussion of the adjudication process. The authors offer a description of the court system and the role its components (prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges) have. This section also examines the correctional component of crime. Corrections focuses on the programs, services, and facilities responsible for rehabilitating those who have been accused or convicted of a criminal offense. The final section of this book is concerned with world crime trends and the international criminal justice system. The authors believe that exchanging ideas and solutions may allow us to meet the challenges of an ever changing world. An international exchange will establish useful theories and special insights as to what works and what does not work in crime prevention.
Police Systems and Practices: An Introduction by Thomas Barker, Ronald D. Hunter, and Jeffrey P. Rush
Prentice Hall, Inc. (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632), 1994, 354 pp., hardcover$50.00. The authors provide a basic discussion of the people, systems, practices, and problems of law enforcement intended for entry-level
students in the United States. The text is clearly presented and well referenced. The text would assist international readers interested in an introduction to police practices in the United States. The first part of this book is an introduction to the rest of the book. It explains who the police are, where they are located, and how many officers there are. This part also addresses the role of the police in the criminal justice system. To aid in understanding today's law enforcement agencies, the authors provide a historical account of the development of policing. The evolution of law enforcement is reviewed, beginning with prehistoric times and extending through the development. of small town and big city enforcement, state policing, federal investigations, and private policing. The second part focuses on local/municipal level policing. The authors examine the roles of police at the street level and how they vary by community and police organization. The examination of the police role has centered on three models: crime control, order maintenance, and service. This part also stresses the importance of administrating a police organization. Police organization is important for the direction of the department and for basic law enforcement. Police agencies can be divided into categories when discussing staff support. These include full service, partially independent, and dependent agencies. Support staff includes those individuals involved in dispatch, records, recruitment, and training. The staff unit exists to support the patrol and investigations aspect of law enforcement. The third part of this book looks at police professionalism, policing in the community, and the future of policing. The authors identify some of the unethical activities police officers may become involved in. These include drug use, brutality, sexual misconduct, and shakedowns. Police in the United States will continue to change as society changes. The authors believe the role of the police will continue to evolve, but crime fighting will receive less emphasis because of a more integrated approach to public service.