Chapter 9 Vocabulary & Outline

Chapter Nine "Origins & Organizations of Law Enforcement" Vocabulary

1. mutual pledge system: a system of community self-responsibility that existed in Britain during the Middle Ages, in which residents were held responsible for the conduct of their neighbors.

2. constable: a citizen in charge of weapons and equipment for one hundred families in a geographic area. In England, constables were appointed by a local nobleman beginning around the year 900.

3.shire reeve: an official apponited by the Britxh Crown who was responsible for overseeing the constables and several hundred families in a given area (called a shire), the modern word 'sheriff' is derived from this term.

4. watch and ward system: a system established in England in 1285 to aid constables in their law enforcement efforts, men from each town were required to take turns standing watch at night. Crime suspects were turned over to the constable.

5. justice of the peace: an office established by Edward II in 1326 to assist the sheriff in enforcing the law. Eventually the role of the justice of the peace shifted to adjudication, while the sheriff's retained their local peacekeeping function.

6. preventive police: the first organized police department in London, established in 1829. The popular English name for police officers, "bobbies" comes from Sir Robert Peel, a founder of the the Metropolitan Police

7. crime commissions: early 20th century crime commissions included the Chicago Crime Commission (1919), The National Crime Commission (1925), and the Wickersham Commission (1931). These commissions focused on the improved operation of the criminal justice system as the best way to reduce crime.

8. progressivism: early 20th century era in policing that focused on efficiency, professionalism, and improved technology.

9. professionalization: those changes in police organization, administration, and technology aimed at improving the efficiency of the police in the deteremce and apprehension of criminals.

10. Law Enforcement Assistance Administration: (LEAA) established in 1968, LEAA ws setup with in the U.S. Department of Justice to allocate money to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Between 1968 and 1977 the LEAA spent more than 6 billion on crime control programs and college education for police officers.

11. local police: the police departments of municipalties, local law enforcement also includes county sheriffs and special police agencies such as park, airport, transit and university police.

12. community policing: a service oriented style of law enforcement that focuses on disorder in the community, crime prevention, and fear reduction (as opposed to the traditional focus on serious street crimes)

13. weed and seed: federal programs that combine enforcement with community services in an effort to reduce crime in neighborhoods.

14. state police: enforcement agencies primarily engaged in highway patrol activities. About half of state polic agencies also have the authority to conduct investigative work.

15. federal law enforcement: seventeen different agencies that investigate violations of federal law. Unlike state police agencies, few federal agencies engage in patrol work; most perform exclusively investigative functions.

16. transnational law enforcement: international agreements and law enforcement efforts that attempt to serve the interests of all nations in the face of the growth of international travel, the transnational nature of the Internet and the threat of international organized crime and terrorism.

17. interpol: the International Criminal Police Organization composed of 177 member nations. It assists member law enforcement agencies, requiring information about crimes or criminal of a transnational nature.

18. multijurisdictional task forces: multiagency efforts to combat multijurisdictional crimes allowing for pooling of evidence, personnel and expertise and to reduce unneccessary duplication of effort.

19. private security: law enforcement agencies that protect private property and are paid by private individuals and corporations.

Outline

How Did Policing Evolve?
`Before police departments were formally established, less formal measures of self-protection were used. In the mutual pledge system, everyone in the community was responsible for everyone else. In the watch and ward system, men from each town were required to take turns standing watch at night.
`The invention of gin was a catalyst for the establishment of publig policing. Although the gin craze abated, the fear of crime did not. This led to the creation of the Bow Street Runners, a private agency that patrolled the streets.
`The first police force was establsihed in London in 1829. Police officers patrolled specific areas and were organized in a paramilitary fashion to maintain discipline.
`The first daytime police forve in the United Stated was established in Boston in 1838, New York was the first city to create a unified day and night police force. By 1900 nearly every city of any size had established a full-time police force.
`Urban police forces were plagues by problmes of low pay, disrespect, and ineffectiveness. During the Progressice Era there was a movement towward police efficiency, professionalism, and improved technology.
`Police effectiveness was increased through improved investigative techniques and better selection and training procedures.

What is The Organization of Law Enforcement?
`The vast majority of police agencies are found at the local level of government. Local police enforce appilcable state laws, local ordinances, and traffic laws; they also investigate accidents and suspected crimes.
`State police agencies enforce state laws and investigate accidents. They include specialized law enforcement agencies for such purposes as alcohol control.
`There are seventeen different federal law agencies that enforce lawas enacted by Congress. The largest federal agencies are the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
`The growth of international travel, the transnational nature of the Internet, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Who are the Police?
`Police selection processes vary among police departments, but most agencies require applicants to pass a written test, physical agility test, drug test, medical exma (including visual and hearing test), oral interview, psychological assessment, polygraph test, and background investication. The typical police agency requires more that 800 hours of classroom training for new recruits.
`Police offices are increasingly female and minorities, although there continue to be cases of harassment and discrimination within some police departments, despite the fact that performance studies and victim interviews show that females and minority officers perform well and are accepted by the public.

What Are Some Concerns About Policing In the United States?
`Policing faces a dilemma: There is a need to organize law enforcement efforts in amore efficient way. However, there is also reluctance to provide the necessary resources and authority.
`Innovations in equipment have contributed to improved police work. However, the introduction of 911 lines led to unanticipated problems due to an extremely high volume of calls.
`Reliance on technology in policing is increasinging with the updated National Crime Information Center, which will allow for police to access criminal histories, wanted persons files, and fingerprint comparisons via cimputers in their patrol cars. DNA banking is enabling police to compare human tissue found at crime scenes with a database of known offenders to solve more crimes.
`Media images of police work often distort the true nature of policing, providing the public with an unrealistic view of capabilities and performance of police.
`Private security is a burgeoning industry, taking on law enforcement tasks in areas where public police forces do not adapt sufficiently to social and technological changes.