Abstract This paper four different television cop shows: "Hill Street Blues", "Dragnet", Law & Order", and "CSI". The paper contends that "CSI" and "Law & Order" are cookie-cutter, formula shows based on the original TV cop series "Dragnet"; whereas, "Hill Street Blues" delves into real social issues. To illustrate its point, the paper contrasts specific episodes to demonstrate the superiority of "Hill Street Blues". The paper concludes that "Hill Street Blues" shuns the good versus evil theme of other TV cop shows and instead examines the complexities, contradictions and frailties of its characters, the system and police work itself.
From the Paper "CSI Miami" is just a relocation of the same show, except more glossy as it is in Miami. In episode number 110, we see more of the same line whereby central investigators Horatio, Speedle and Calleigh root through the evidence in the homicide of a strange and unorthodox college professor whom they find tied to a tree. In another case, Delko and Megan investigate a car found in the water with a dead body in the trunk, and immediately suspect an insurance scam. Once again we are presented with clues and invited to join in the investigation as it unfolds, but with more shallow characters and predicable lines."
Abstract This essay reviews "Vice Cop", which is based on a true story. The author Mike Mallowe tells the story of the life of Bill McCarthy, who was a tough Irish-American cop who refused to be pulled into the world of police corruption.
Abstract This essay will examine how the philosophical understanding of populism is represented in Roger and Me and Cops in order to demonstrate that the film underlines a progressive view of populism, while Cops merely reinforces a conservative ethic, that of the power system.
Abstract This paper takes a look at the emotional, psychological and physical problems many police officers experience after leaving the police force. These problems, often referred to as the "ex-cop syndrome", can be many and varied including alcoholism, higher incidences of heart attack, higher divorce rates, depression and addiction to prescription drugs. The paper also examines the police force culture that contributes to the behavior exhibited by ex-officers suffering from ex-cop syndrome.
Outline
Introduction
Factors in the Development of Police Officer Identity
Some Reasons Why Police Officers are Different to Civilians
Marriage and Family Problems Specific to Police Officers
The Effects of Stress
Police Suicide
The Effects of Shift Work
Conclusion
From the Paper "The average police officer, if he or she makes it to retirement, lives about 5 years if they don't have an action plan. For those officers who are forced to retire early, or are dishonorably discharged, adjusting to the civilian world can be nothing short of a nightmare. Those who have felt compelled to retire early may feel a sense of rejection from their colleagues-a loss of identity. They may harbor frustration at not getting promotions they felt they should have got. Very often the debriefing (such as it is), is a mere formality and does not adequately address mental health concerns that should be addressed. This can leave the ex-police officer feeling lost, confused and cast adrift from what has been a significant part of their adult life. Anger, violence, substance abuse, criminal behavior and/or suicide can flow from this unbalanced mental state."
Abstract This paper examines whether there is enough done to police officers who take "law enforcement" too far, including acts of excessive violence, property damage, theft and murder. The paper asks who should be responsible for this type of supervision and bases its answers on the book "Supervising Police Personnel" by Whisenand and Rush. It explains how in the book the writers provides recommended guidelines for a supervisor to be aware of potential "law breaking" cops and how to direct the entire police force into healthy work habits.
From the Paper "How many police shows have aired on television over the past 20 years? Yet in every show, from the Hill Street Blues to NYPD Blue, a single theme has been present that was used to identify the "god guys" and the ?bad guys.? This theme didn?t change, whether the "bad guys" were the crooks, or crooked cops. To a man, the police who solved the case, or brought the gangster to justice were those who took personal responsibility for their actions, and their beat. It was personal to them. Whether the TV cop solved the case of the missing cat, or brought down a drug king pin, the viewer watched a portrayal of a man or woman who took his or her responsibility to their job, and community very personally."
Abstract This paper analyzes whether the policemen, or cops, the police personality, should be judged based on unique and individual traits or through socialization and experience. It takes the stance that police personality is heavily influenced by police culture, and therefore, leads people to view and perceive police traits according to their socialization and experience with the society and the police culture. It focuses on the sociological perspective of police personality and culture in order to illustrate how personalities are shaped according to an individual's exposure to his or her own culture or niche.
From the Paper "In order to understand the influential effect of police culture to police personality, a proper definition of "culture" and "police culture" is needed. In an article on police culture by Stephen Harrison entitled, ?Police Organizational Culture: Using Ingrained Values to Build Positive Organizational Improvement,? culture is defined as "the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations" (1998). ?Police,? meanwhile, is defined as an "agency of a community or government that is responsible for maintaining public order and preventing and detecting crime" (Microsoft Encarta 2002)."
Abstract This paper examines how Miranda vs. Arizona is easily one of the five most significant cases of the 20th century and changed the use of involuntary confession in court. It looks at how there are few elements of law as well-known as the Miranda Rights ,which are recited in every episode of popular television shows, such as "Cops", "Law and Order", "The Shield", etc., and how most people have managed to know them almost completely by heart. It also examines how, more than anything else, it has become virtually impossible for a police department or federal agency to get away with misstating or even foregoing reading a suspect the Miranda rights and how it has helped to create an atmosphere in which people are far more aware of their rights than ever before.
From the Paper "While it has already been mentioned that the idea of Miranda Rights has become ingrained in the American consciousness, just how that happened should be examined. While Miranda Rights have been mentioned in an almost countless number of feature films, it has been television that has truly popularized the Miranda Rights as people know them today. Most significantly are the programs NYPD Blue and Law and Order, as well as the spin offs Special Victims Unit and Criminal Intent, as well as other programs such as Crime Scene Investigations. In any given episode of any of the aforementioned programs, one could almost lose count of how many times Miranda Rights are actually read, mentioned, used or abused. Most people could learn all they would ever really need to know about their rights if they were to be arrested simply by watching and paying attention to what occurs in these programs."
Abstract This paper discusses Community Oriented Policing (COP), a program based on the view that emphasis should be placed on prevention of crime through a program placing the police and the community in closer contact and making them partners in achieving a reduction in crime. It explains that the approach has gone by several different names but is based largely on a proactive view of the role of the police and on making the police more a part of the community and less a last refuge for victims after a crime has been committed.
From the Paper "Community Oriented Policing (COP) is a developing paradigm for law enforcement that places an emphasis on prevention of crime through a program placing the police and the community in closer contact and making them partners in achieving a reduction in crime. The approach has gone by several different names but is based largely on a proactive view of the role of the police and on making the police more a part of the community and less a last refuge for victims after a crime has been committed. This approach started as Community-Based Policing (which did not lend itself to the sort of descriptive acronym that COP does). Kenney and McNamara (1999) state, "Community-oriented policing . . . emphasizes improved police-community relations in hopes that that will assist in solving many problems in particular neighborhoods" (p. viii). The idea of community-oriented policing has been applied in different ways in ..."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that popular culture portrayals of organized crime are sordidly romantic. The writer notes that stories of organized crime include titillating themes of betrayal, backstabbing, murder, and intrigue. Further, the writer points out that organized crime also depicts the triumph of the underdog: the would-be poor immigrant growing rich in spite of being hounded by the big bad cops. The writer concludes that organized crime can destroy families, communities, and larger social organizations and is rarely as romantic as it seems on the silver screen.
From the Paper "Movies like Goodfellas and television shows like The Sopranos are perfect examples of how organized crime is romanticized in pop culture. The bad guys don't seem so bad because they have families, friends, and a code of ethics. Even if their code of ethics is warped, audiences root for the gangsters because they earned our trust and sympathy. Based on pop culture definitions alone, I could define organized crime as a collective response to political, social, and economic injustice. Most television and film mob families are working class minority or immigrant groups. Their criminal activities help them achieve the American dream. They might break the law, but also help pour money back into their communities. In fact, organized crime syndicates take the law into their own hands when the establishment falls short. Cops in mafia movies are usually as corrupt as the gangsters."
An examination of two articles - "Gangs" and "School Safety" from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) website and their views on problem-oriented policing.
Abstract This paper introduces and analyzes the topic of problem-oriented policing. Specifically, it discusses two articles from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) website and describe the approaches these articles use to address crime problems. The articles are entitled "Gangs" and "School Safety."
From the Paper "School violence is much more than gang activity today, it can also come from outside the school in the form of vagrants, parents, and even strangers who are looking to kidnap or harm students, or even students themselves, who go on violent rampages and kill faculty and other students. While these activities are much harder to predict, there may be many indicators that are being overlooked in this area as well, and so, law enforcement agencies must educate parents, educators, and those who deal with students, from bus drivers to counselors and even school security guards, to be on the lookout for any unusual or potentially dangerous activities. If the same indicators can be identified for this type of violence, then there may someday be a way to target schools that might pose a higher threat for other type of safety issues, such as gun violence and child abduction, and this will ultimately lead to safer schools and safer students."
Tags: law enforcement, violence education community
Abstract In this article, the writer reviews the movie 'Serpico' that shows police corruption or cops above the law. The writer addresses many scenes in the movie that depict this type of behavior from a pro-police perspective. The writer explains that 'Serpico' is based on a true story of a New York policeman newly graduated from the police academy who discovers dishonesty throughout the police department. The writer discusses that this movie tells about Frank Serpico dealing with crooked police officers in the early 1970s in New York City. The writer believes that this movie is very accurate of what was going on during that time when many police officers lost their jobs and were even prosecuted.
From the Paper "Serpico gets transferred to another precinct in Manhattan where he finds out that they are also taking money. Serpico and his new partner tell the Chief what is going on but the Chief wants to protect Commissioner Delaney. Serpico realizes that no one is going to do anything about corrupt police departments and decides to go to The New York Times. The mayor appoints an investigation commission of a five man committee headed by Whitman Knapp to review the city procedures for investigating police corruption.
"Serpico gets transferred to the narcotics division. He is on a stakeout with other officers and gets shot in the face. None of the other officers come to his aid but he does survive. Serpico appears at the Knapp commission and testifies about the police corruption."
Abstract This paper examines the formation and recent development of reality television: the type of television that reflects personal lives and encounters. The author attempts to tackle why reality television exists, the types of reality television that is offered and the future of reality television and society. Included is a review of different television shows that fall under this category.
From the Paper "In the past few years? society and the entertainment industry has been more and more obsessed with the idea of reality-based television. This desire to find the real amongst society is a reflection on a society, which is based on lies, fraud and war. Television shows such as Real World, Cops, and Hard Copy introduced television viewers to the world of the unscripted and spontaneous. We often put aside these television programs calling them trash TV, or game shows, when really it is society, which has made these shows popular and allowed for the major networks, to demand for our attention in their scheduling. This essay will introduce many different types of reality television and begin to guide us to understanding why it exists and where it is expected to go. Society has been waiting for television to reflect our personal lives and the real world in which we live, and now it does."
Abstract This research paper focuses on 3 rap artists who produced negative rap lyrics: Tupac Shakur, Christopher "Notorious BIG" and Ice-T's lyrics. This paper describes the negative influence rap lyrics have on young minds. This paper also shows the negative outcome of these rap artists from their heated lyrics.
From the Paper "According to data gathered by the Recording Industry Association of America, nearly half of the recordings sold in 1995 (47.3 percent) were purchased by teens, with people over 30 making up 25.1 percent of the buying force. Those older styles of music like jazz and classical constitute a mere 5.9 percent of the music market (Considine 76). Rap music reaches a lot of impressionable young minds. Violence in rap music is very destructive and some rap artists set extremely bad examples to teens and this is why rap lyrics need to have a positive influence. Rap lyrics are blamed for several deadly incidents involving both rap artists and innocent bystanders. Two of raps biggest names, Tupac Shakur and Notorious BIG, live out their lyrics leading to their deaths. Ice-T's lethal lyrics of his song "Cop Killers" are just about the worst influence a rap artist can have on teens."
From the Paper "There are different ways of looking at culture, and these may involve methodological differences, each of which may be applied to the same culture. "Culture" looked at as an intrinsic and universal aspect of all social life would then discern differences in each society based on variations in core values, institutions, and behaviors. Viewing culture as distinct and explicit practice reflects each culture as essentially distinct, manifested in different explicit institutions, values, and behaviors. Within every culture there are also subcultures, groupings of people with slightly different cultural roots who conform on one level to the norms of the larger society and on another place a higher value on the norms of their particular group. In the film A Stranger Among Us (1992), there is an explicit emanation of the meaning of culture, the value of a.."
From the Paper "The recent confrontation in Waco, Texas between officers of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and members of the Branch Davidian religious sect points to the vulnerability of law enforcement officers to injury--and death--in the line of duty. The concurrent news of the slaying of several Los Angeles police officers underscores the risk involved in fighting crime. These two examples tend to focus public attention on the particular dangers of urban and federal law enforcement. Yet they fall short of giving one a complete picture of the profound menace many police confront. This paper will look generally at the risk of death that officers face, how they cope with that risk, and, finally, the effects and policies that police death produces. Furthermore, it will demonstrate that risk to death and injury is common to all elements of law enforcement--and just as great ..."
