Revisions Of Foundations Of Development And Functions ✓ Solved
Revisions of Foundations of the Development and Functions of Police
Using the feedback you received from your professor from Assignment 1, revise your 5- to 7-page paper in which you:
- Compare and contrast the major characteristics of the three eras of policing: political era, reform era, and community era. Provide real-world examples to illustrate the differences between each era.
- Identify the skills and training that are imparted to police trainees during their academy training that you believe are most essential to future success in law enforcement. Explain your rationale. Consider using real-world events to justify your rationale.
- Examine the principles of community policing and its importance in law enforcement. Explain how it differs from traditional policing. Provide real-world scenarios to illustrate these differences.
- Examine critically the four stages of the problem-solving process (SARA) and explain the importance of each stage.
- Determine the top five qualities that detectives and undercover officers need to possess and explain how these qualities relate to real-world applications and future success.
- Use at least four quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other websites do not qualify as academic resources.
Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references should follow the Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). This format is specific to this course. Review the SWS documentation for details. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the professor's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
The evolution of policing in America reflects significant shifts in societal values, organizational structures, and approaches to law enforcement. Understanding these historical eras—the political, reform, and community eras—is essential to grasp the modern dynamics of policing and how officers serve communities today.
Major Eras of Policing: Characteristics and Examples
The first era, the political era (1840s-1930s), was characterized by close ties between police and political entities. Police officers often performed services based on political favors rather than crime prevention. An example of this era was the use of police patrols to maintain political influence, as seen in many urban centers where police acted as enforcers for local politicians (Manning, 2014).
Transitioning into the reform era (1930s-1970s), policing emphasized professionalism, crime fighting, and organizational efficiency. It marked a shift from political patronage to a more bureaucratic approach. The establishment of centralized police departments and the implementation of scientific policing methods, such as fingerprinting and crime labs, exemplify this era (Kappeler & Gaustad, 2014). A contemporary example is the adoption of data-driven crime analysis to allocate resources effectively.
The community era (1970s-present) focuses on building partnerships between police and community members to prevent crime and improve quality of life. Strategies like community policing patrols and neighborhood watch programs exemplify this approach (Bayley & Shearing, 1996). For instance, police departments in cities like Oakland have implemented community policing initiatives fostering trust and collaboration with residents.
Essential Skills and Training for Police Trainees
Police training imparts various skills including communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and cultural competence. Among these, communication skills are vital for de-escalating conflicts, building community trust, and gathering intelligence (Kraska, 2017). For example, during protests or tense encounters, effective communication can prevent escalation. Critical thinking is equally essential for analyzing complex incidents and making tactical decisions under stress.
Scenario-based training enhances officers' ability to respond appropriately in diverse situations, such as domestic disputes or active shooter incidents (Bittner, 2015). Continuous training in ethics and legal standards ensures officers operate within the boundaries of law and uphold public trust (Worden, 2015). These skills collectively ensure officers are prepared for the multifaceted demands of modern law enforcement roles.
Principles and Importance of Community Policing
Community policing emphasizes proactive problem-solving, community engagement, and decentralization of authority. Its principles include partnership building, community involvement, and a focus on quality of life issues (Skogan, 2006). This approach fosters trust and cooperation, which are crucial for crime prevention and solving community problems.
This paradigm differs from traditional policing, which primarily relied on reactive responses and centralized command. Traditional policing tends to focus on rapid response to calls, whereas community policing emphasizes prevention through relationship building (Gill, Weisburd, Telep, Vitter, & Bennett, 2014). For example, a neighborhood watch program actively involves residents in crime prevention rather than waiting for police to intervene after crimes occur.
The SARA Problem-Solving Model and Its Stages
The SARA model—Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment—is a structured process for addressing community issues.
Scanning involves identifying problems through data collection and community input, which helps prioritize issues (Corbett, 2006). For instance, residents reporting frequent burglaries may highlight a specific hotspot.
Analysis examines data to understand underlying causes, such as examining crime patterns, offender behavior, or environmental factors. This stage informs targeted responses.
Response involves implementing strategic interventions like increased patrols, environmental design, or community outreach. Evaluating effectiveness ensures the response addresses the root causes.
Assessment evaluates the success of interventions, guiding adjustments. Using data to measure outcomes allows departments to refine their strategies over time, leading to sustainable solutions.
Qualities Essential for Detectives and Undercover Officers
The top qualities include integrity, observational skills, emotional resilience, adaptability, and strong communication abilities. For example, integrity ensures honesty and ethical behavior during sensitive undercover work (Dennis, 2010). Observation skills enable officers to notice critical details unnoticed by others.
Emotional resilience is vital for coping with stressful and potentially dangerous situations, while adaptability allows officers to respond effectively to unpredictable environments. Strong communication skills help build rapport with informants and other officers, which is crucial for success (Alpert & Dunham, 2015). These qualities are directly linked to successful investigations and sustaining careers in law enforcement.
Conclusion
Understanding the historical development, core principles, and practical skills of law enforcement enhances our appreciation of police roles in society. The shift from political to community policing reflects evolving societal expectations and the profession’s commitment to serving and protecting communities. Equipping officers with essential skills and qualities ensures they can meet contemporary challenges effectively and ethically.
References
- Alpert, G. P., & Dunham, R. (2015). Understanding police integrity. Routledge.
- Bayley, D. H., & Shearing, C. D. (1996). The future of policing. Law & Society Review, 30(3), 585-606.
- Bittner, E. (2015). Aspects of police work. Routledge.
- Corbett, J. (2006). Problem-oriented policing: Reflections on the first two decades. Police Practice and Research, 7(4), 355–369.
- Gill, C., Weisburd, D., Telep, C. W., Vitter, Z., & Bennett, T. (2014). Community-oriented policing to reduce crime, disorder, and fear. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (9).
- Kappeler, V. E., & Gaustad, R. (2014). Police, crime, and policing: An introduction. Routledge.
- Kraska, P. (2017). Police and policing: An introduction. Routledge.
- Manning, P. K. (2014). Policing radicalized spaces. Oxford University Press.
- Skogan, W. (2006). Police and community in Chicago: A tale of three cities. Oxford University Press.
- Worden, R. E. (2015). Police administration. Cengage Learning.