Читать книгу Police in America - Steven G. Brandl - Страница 72

 The study of police history is important for several reasons. It can be useful to understand how much or how little things have changed over time and to be aware of what solutions to problems have been tried unsuccessfully in the past. Additionally, knowledge of history can help in predicting the future of policing.

 Prior to the development of formal police departments, policing was done by constables, the watch, slave patrols, and sheriffs.

 A watch was a group of men who oversaw the security of cities and towns during the night and day and could summon others to assist when there was a disturbance. Slave patrols captured runaway slaves and monitored the conduct of slaves.

 The first police departments in America were created around the mid-1800s, at least in part because of the effects of the Industrial Revolution and the creation and rapid rise of cities. This period has been referred to as the political era of policing, as politicians controlled virtually every aspect of the practice.

 The first police departments realized the importance of criminal apprehension and used the strategies of the dragnet, the third degree, Bertillonage, and photography.

 The police baton was the first tool of the police in the mid-1800s. It was made of wood and frequently used to injure someone or to otherwise induce compliance. Batons are infrequently used today but are still standard-issue equipment. They come in many different styles.

 The reform era, which ran from the early 1900s through the 1960s, emphasized police professionalism and capabilities. This way of thinking was spearheaded by progressive police leaders such as O. W. Wilson and August Vollmer. This era began as the result of an increase in high-profile crime and additional demands on the police. These additional demands were primarily due to increased usage of the automobile.

 The 1960s represented a crisis for the police and led to a new way of thinking. The community problem-solving era of policing began at the end of this decade, and most scholars agree that it is still the current era of policing. Other scholars suggest that the 2001 terrorist attacks signaled the beginning of a new style of policing.

 The community problem-solving era of policing represents the belief that citizens have something to contribute when it comes to crime prevention. Ideally, citizens and police should coproduce crime prevention.

 Much research on policing has been conducted during the community problem-solving era, but there is still much to be learned.

 Much has changed in policing since the beginning of the community problem-solving era; most notably, the diversity of police officers and the technology used in police departments. The remainder of the book provides a discussion of the current state of policing.