Prevalence Of Community Policing And Its Effectiveness In United States - Research Paper Example

? Prevalence of Community Policing and its effectiveness in United s and number submitted Prevalence of Community Policing and its effectiveness in United States The word “police” originated from the Latin word “politia” which means “civil administration.” The word “politia,” in turn, was derived from the Greek word “polis” which means “city.” Therefore, the very word police can be used to refer to the people involved in the administration of the city. Thus, policing involves the process of dealing with the lawbreakers and thereby maintaining law and order in the city. Implementing new ideas and reforming the concepts of decision making and creating a new culture in the police departments in relation to a particular geographical place, city or community is defined as community policing. “Community policing is a philosophy that promotes organizational strategies, which support the systematic use of partnership and problem solving techniques, to proactively address the immediate conditions that give rise to public safety issues” (Community Police Defined, n. d). Thus, the concept of community policing is comprised of various components such as the community partnerships, organizational transformation, and problem solving methodologies. This paper will discuss the prevalence and effectiveness of the community policing in the United States of America. As stated above, one of the vital components in community policing would be the community partnership, under which government agencies, private businesses, media, non profits and service providers would be involved. Particularly, they will assist the police in developing solutions to the problems which mainly affect the public safety such as crime, social disorder, fear of crime, etc. The other element includes the organizational transformation where the basic structural components such as organizational structure, policies, information systems, etc., are optimized effectively, which allows the effective structuring in the community policing. The problem solving aspects involve the process of engaging in the proactive and systematic examination of public safety problems to develop optimum solutions, and then rigorously evaluate the responses to those solutions. Thus, some of the problem solving activities in the policing include: a) Scanning b) Analysis c) Response d) Assessment (Friedman, 1992). The concept of scanning includes identifying and prioritizing the problems. Analysis part mainly focuses on researching and collecting the details about the problem. Developing solutions for the problem and implementing the solution encompasses response step in problem solving. The final step includes evaluating the success of the response and assessing the solution. Therefore, from the above sentences the major components in community policing can be well understood. Consequently, “Community policing is a policy and strategy aimed at achieving more effective and efficient crime control, reduced fear of crime and improved quality of life” (Friedman, 1992). From both community as well as police perspectives, the community policing can be clearly defined as a way to control the crimes which mainly arise due to the societal factors. Some proactive measures need to be implemented in some instances through the way of replacing the reactive policing. Above all, the decentralized implementation of the community oriented policing is the major prerequisite. This part of the paper will mainly focus on the framework of the community policing. The frame work of the community policing is mainly based on two major entities which include the community encompassing the people and the police department. Based on the request put forth by the public, and on the nature of service and interaction rendered by the police, there can be three frameworks. The first framework includes the scenarios when the community request help from the police department, then the second framework is how the police seek assistance from the community based on the complaints and other requests. The third level is mutual cooperation where both the police and the community work together in sorting out the problems. From the above sentences it is obvious that cooperation and proper interaction between the community and the police are very much essential in establishing an effective community policing. Below is the pictorial representation of the above discussed different levels of the community policing framework. (Friedman, 1992). Thus, the effective and efficient development of the framework increases the interaction between the public and the police department and ultimately urges them to perform their duties perfectly in order to maintain law and order in a particular community or city. When focusing on the role of a police, two main elements can be considered, namely: the police as the crime fighters who are mainly concerned with the law enforcement, and as the maintainers of the order, where they need to sustain peace and should provide social services to the community. “The police have historically overemphasized their role as crime fighters and played down their common work as keepers of the peace and providers of social service.” (Dempsey and Forst, 2007). Accordingly, the primary goal of the community policing can be encapsulated into two main roles, namely, maintaining order and protecting life and property. Moreover, the services rendered by the community policing can be classified into two types: the legalistic style and the service style. The legalistic style includes enacting strict laws and proceeding with strict actions against the illegal activities. They also make many misdemeanor arrests to suppress crimes, thefts and robberies. The other form of service would include the service style where they focus on serving to the needs of the society. The police department see themselves as helpers rather than enforcers in a war against the crime. They fulfill the needs of the community and provide utmost protection to the public and ensure their safety. This part of the paper will mainly focus on some of the core components of community policing. As discussed earlier, community partnership is the one of the vital core components. “Establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the general goal of the first core component of community policing – community partnership” (Understanding Community Policing, 1994). Without the cooperation and assistance from the community members, the police department may not be able to perform their duties promptly and, hence, they have recognized the need for the cooperation with the community. They do that by encouraging the community members to provide relevant information about serious crimes, theft, robberies, etc. Furthermore, the police department as part of community policing also participates in various community activities such as social functions, educational and other recreational programs conducted for school children and other public meetings in order to enhance the participation of the community. Above all, they extend a variety of crisis intervention services to the society. Some of the activities include: helping the victims during accident scenarios, rendering immediate medical services, assisting in resolving the disputes like family violence, managing issues of racial harassment, etc. Thus, the community policing has become an integral part of the society by involving themselves in solving the problems of the public and thereby procuring the support of them. Therefore, the concept of community partnership encompasses the art of adopting the policing perspective with the effective implementation of standard law enforcement, as well as actualizing extended various welfare activities that contribute towards orderliness and well-being of the society. The overall welfare activities and the services rendered by the police department help in developing the trust between the police and the community. This trust developed enables the police to gain more support from the public and greater access to the valuable information through which they can sort out the root causes of the problems, and ultimately could lead to the solution and other crime-prevention measures. Hence, building up of trust is not a process which happens all of a sudden. It has to be built gradually through treating the people with respect and providing solutions to their problems periodically. Moreover, the use of unnecessary forces, arrogances, rudeness, etc., may act as the barriers and can ultimately dampen the willingness of the community members to ally themselves with the police department. “Under community policing, the police become both catalyst and facilitators in the development of these communities” (Understanding Community Policing, 1994). Like a ‘catalyst’, community policing can play a major role in enhancing the safety and ensuring positive changes in the communities. The other vital core component of community policing would be the problem solving technique. Problem solving is a broad term which involves more consecutive steps in eliminating and prevention of crimes. Choosing the geographical area, carefully observing and studying the problems in that area and then applying appropriate measures in controlling the crimes are some of the basic steps involved in a problem-solving process. Also the nature of the community problems varies according to the geographical and demographic characteristic of a community. Thus, based on the nature of the problem, and other elements involved, the problem solving techniques are framed accordingly. Also the problem solving process is mainly dependent on the input from both the community and the police department. Consequently, the problem solving can involve the following, like eliminating the problem completely. For example, eliminating the traffic congestion in certain parts of the cities and providing traffic signals. The other way of solving the problems would include taking earnest steps in reducing the number of occurrences of the problem. It can mainly include crimes associated with drug-dealing, robbery, gang violence, etc. Framing appropriate solutions to the problems under the auspices of community policing includes setting up of counseling and rehabilitation centers which can have a permanent check on such problems. Improving the problem handling methodologies can also assist the community police to effectively deal with the problems, which includes showing sensitivity in dealing with the victims and instructing the public to overcome and handle the problems themselves. Above all, manipulating the environmental and the societal factors can be considered as one of the best ways to discourage the criminal behaviors. From the above sentences, it is clear that different dimensions of the problem solving techniques can be carried out as part of community policing The other important core component of community policing would include the organizational transformation. “Organizational transformation involves the integration of the community policing philosophy into the mission statement, policies and procedures, and other system activities that define organizational cultures and activities” (Docobo, 2005). That is, in the community policing, some of the higher authorities and the individual officers are given the authority to resolve the disputes and concerns within their community. They can also make operational decisions which are suitable for their assignments and in a way to solve the problems effectively. Through the implementation of organizational transformations even some of the officers at a lower grade are given the authority in decision making during the drastic situations and crisis period. What is more, through the concept of the organizational transformations every individual in the police department is provided with the chance of decision making, so they can come up with apt decisions which elevate community policing. “Community policing introduction into American policing has been a long, complicated process. It is rooted in team policing, police-community relations, and crime prevention” (Kappeler and Gaines, 2009). The effective functioning of the community policing can be monitored in the way of reduction in the crimes, decrease in the public’s fear of crime reporting and enhancement in the quality of life of the people. The renewed activity within the community also demonstrates the effectiveness of community policing efforts, mainly in areas where people have been afraid to leave their residents. Apart from the improved quality of life, the effectiveness of community policing can also be reflected in the comments and their cooperation from the community members or the public. Therefore, the effectiveness and the efficiency are two major yardsticks which can measure the functioning and the achievements of community policing. The third main criterion which is involved in the judging process would include the equity exhibited by the police. Thus, equity is one of the most vital elements that are grounded firmly in the Constitution of United States of America, where all the police officers are sworn to stick on. The concept of equity in community policing can be understood through three major dimensions which include the following: a) Equal access to the services rendered by the police b) Equal treatment of all the citizens as per the Constitution of United States by the police department c) Equal distribution of the resources and the police services among the different communities in United States (Kappeler and Gaines, 2009). “As enforcers of the law, police play a crucial role in upholding democracy” (Jarvis, 2011). Thus, in a democratic society people grant an increased level of authority to police in order to live in a safe environment. What is more, the legal structures provide the police with the power to make arrests and use the law effectively for maintaining law and order in the community. In turn, the police department and the authorities should assure safety to the people and should adhere to the high ethical values. Thus, the implementation and the success of community policing in United States mainly depend on the reciprocal relationship between the police and the citizens, whose safety are being secured by the police department. Henceforth, the community policing and its relationship with the society also depend on the community culture and building trust. Generally, the cultures in the community and the prejudices they have towards the police department have a greater impact on the effectiveness of community policing. On the other hand, people, irrespective of the culture, race, ethnicity, etc., would always want the police to provide them with utmost safety and guard them in all situations. With the prevalence of the effective community policing, there seems to be a considerable reduction in crimes, thefts, etc. Moreover, the structuring and the framework of the community policing in United States are mainly based on the nature and the needs of the wide array of communities. “In a constantly changing world, it is important that policies are reviewed and adjust to suit the prevailing conditions” (Waddington, 2007). Frequent appraisal of the policies in community policing is essential. Since the needs and the expectations of the public are constantly changing, the police department should also be completely equipped to fulfill the needs of the community. Community policing represents a new and bold approach to the enforcement of the law and order in the society effectively. It employs various tactics and strategies in bringing about protection as well as the empowerment of the society. To sum it up, the community policing involves the process of police force working with the people as close as possible in order to have a keen watch on their problems and to solve them ultimately. Thus, it not only involves the process of reducing the crimes but also rendering a helping hand to the public and treats them with humane nature. Finally, when community policing works out well in particularly communities, it can elevate the security and the lifestyle of the people in those communities. References Community Policing defined. (n. d). COPS Community Oriented Policing Services. Retrieved from http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/default.asp?item=36 Dempsey, J. S., & Forst, L. S. (2007). An Introduction to Policing. Cengage Learning. Docobo, J. (2005). Community Policing as the Primary Prevention Strategy for Homeland Security at the Local Law Enforcement Level. Homeland Security Affairs. 1 (2). Friedman, R. R. (1992). Community Policing: Comparative Perspectives and Prospects. Palgrave Macmillan. Jarvis, C. J. (2011). Ethical and Effective Policing. Journal USA. 15 (10): 1-25. Kappeler, V. E., & Gaines, L. K. (2009). Community Policing: A Contemporary Perspective. 5th ed. Anderson Publishing. Understanding Community Policing: A Framework for Action. (1994). National Criminal Institute Justice Reference Service. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/commp.pdf Waddington, P. A. J. (2007). Community Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice. Policing. 1 (2): 129 -131. Read More