Social Activities - Essay Example

Community Policing Community Policing Introduction Community policing entails organizational strategies that promote problem-solving techniques and systematic use of partnership to address proactively the conditions related to public safety, like social disorder and crime. Community policing encompasses three main components. These are community partnership, organizational transformation, and problem-solving. Community partnership entails the collaborative partnership between individuals, organizations, and the law enforcement agency that serve to work out solutions for problems and enhance trust.

Organizational transformation involves aligning the management, personnel, and structure to support the community partnership and enhance proactive problem-solving. Problem-solving entails engagement in the systematic and proactive examination of the problems that have been identified to evaluate and develop effective responses (Limbs, 2009). Problem-Solving through Law Enforcement Initiative Community policing entails the reaction to crimes through arresting and incarcerating the criminals.

Crime is not committed in a vacuum, and effective control entails a continuum address of the issues in the community that lies under the root of criminal activities. The various law enforcement agencies and police forces develop viable strategies in dealing with constellations of the factors associated with the disorder. Community policing integrates the COPS and faith-based organizations in sharing unique insights on crime and other problems affecting the communities (Clarke & John, 2005). Community policing aims at enhancing the relationship between the police and the community in addressing criminal issues.

Police officers in law enforcement investigate the causes of crime and disorder and creatively solve such problems within their assigned communities. In doing this, police develop networks of personal contacts within and without their departments. The contacts are fostered through bikes, horse patrols, or by foot to get the officer outside the squad car (Clarke & John, 2005). The federal government passed the violent crime control Act in 1994 funded by the Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Act.

This enhanced community policing capabilities. The Community Oriented Policing Services, COPS office administers and develops, and supervises the new grant programs based on the Act. This enhanced purchasing of crime-fighting technology as well as supported innovation in policing (Rinehart, Anna, & Gwen, 2001). Community policing emphasizes on prevention of crime. The public will partner with the police in lowering the crime rates. Several groups create awareness and actively patrol their neighborhood regularly.

Also, residents are allowed to reinvigorate their community by curbing crimes (Limbs, 2009). One of the law enforcement initiatives is the Neighborhood Watch Program which enhances the reinvigoration of the communities by the residents. This is critical among low-income neighborhoods. This is because adults work during odd hours, and this makes scheduling meetings and organization events a significant problem. To enhance efficiency, the Neighborhood Watch Program should follow clearly established guidelines to enhance the effectiveness in the prevention of crimes.

This entails planning out the strategies which address problems in a particular area as well as building a relationship between the residents and law enforcement officers. The needs of the neighborhood are assessed, and volunteers are selected and trained. This program is also applicable in areas that are sparsely populated, and rural areas. During the attacks on September 11, 2001, the Attorney General emphasized the furnishing of the Neighborhood Watch Programs with the information to enable citizens to recognize potential terrorist activities and report to the law enforcement department (Rinehart, Anna, & Gwen, 2001).

The issues of drugs and substance abuse have been prevalent in many communities. There has been awareness to prevent drug and violence like the D.A.R.E. program. The program is integrated with the approach in community policing, and it reflects several values on community policing. In this program, the officers in patrol go to various schools creating awareness among children regarding the dangers associated with drug abuse (Clarke & John, 2005). Police departments and community policing create safer environments for the people in the communities.

Each community has distinct needs, and programs are, therefore, different from one community to the other. In some communities, elderly citizens are involved in policing programs. However, communities are unable to report crimes to the police department due to retaliation and poor relationship with the police officers. Community policing entails various tools and techniques that enhance law enforcement by the agencies. The federal government has integrated community policing into its budget to fund the communities in fighting crime (Clarke & John, 2005).

In conclusion, states, cities, local communities, and the federal government have played a key role in banning and combating crime and promoting awareness in the community. The community and the citizens should work together with the police departments in enhancing law and order in their communities. The federal government is critical in enhancing the production and implementation of relationships in community policing. The police department cannot be effective on its own in maintaining law and order in the community.

This creates the need for integration and collaboration between the federal government, the police department, and the community (Limbs, 2009).