Community Policing

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how community policing has become more popular in recent years as police forces around the country strive to make communities safer, and their officers more trusted and understood. It looks at the advantages such as trust and open communication between the police and local residents. It also examines some of the disadvantages such as tension between police and minority neighborhoods which stem from a history of distrust and suspicion.

Outline:
Introduction
Presentation of Position "A"
Presentation of Position "B"
Critique of Positions
Author's Position

From the Paper:

"By having community policing, the police get to know the neighborhood and the people in it, and the people get to know the officers. If they are not friends, they are at least acquaintances, which is good in the prevention of crime and the comfort and safety levels of both citizens and police. This is especially true in some of the more dangerous and crime-ridden neighborhoods where people are often afraid to open their doors, even for the police, because they never know who is going to abuse them or cause them problems next. They are frightened and alone. Residents in the poorer neighborhoods, especially the minority neighborhoods, are scared. They often live that way most of their lives. The argument from some is that community policing can change all of that. The argument from others is that it will only make things worse by breeding distrust among neighbors as to who is telling what to the police, and who is being watched out for."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Banta, Bob. (1998, October 31). Promote minorities, ex-police chief says. The Austin American-Statesman. Metro/State.
• Bittner, Egon. 1972. The Functions of the Police in Modern Society. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: National Institute of Mental Health.
• Clearwater Police. (2001, October 29). Community Policing History. Retrieved from http://www.clearwaterpolice.org/cp/cp_history.html
• Grisby, Lorna. (1997). Crime wave: Wesley Skogan knows why it's safer out there. People Weekly, 48, 93-95.
• Manning, Peter K. (1998). Community Policing, Chicago Style (Book Review). The American Journal of Sociology, 104, 282-286.

More papers on Community Policing:

• Analytical Essay # 138300 : "Community Policing: An Assessment of Two Articles"
• Article Review # 140638 : "An Article on Community Policing"
• Essay # 86946 : "Community Policing"
• Analytical Essay # 123986 : "Community Policing: A Radical Approach"

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