Policing: Agencies, Structure, Purpose, and Organization

Vocabulary flashcards covering policing agencies, structure, evidence-based practices, mission purposes, techniques, styles, and historical eras from Criminal Justice Chapters 4 and 5.

Evidence-Based Policing (EBP)

The application of social science research techniques to police administration to increase effectiveness, reduce citizen complaints, and enhance resource efficiency; also known as data-driven policing.

State Law Enforcement

State-level agencies that assist local law enforcement in criminal investigations, patrol state highways, and provide training for municipal and county officers.

Fusion Centers

Centers that collect, share, and analyze intelligence from multiple agencies to create a comprehensive threat picture, evaluate crime data trends, and inform local and state agencies.

Interpol

The International Criminal Police Organization, which acts as a clearinghouse for information on offenses and suspects operating across national boundaries and coordinates international police cooperation.

Europol

The European Police Office, which improves law enforcement effectiveness and cooperation within the European Union (EU).

Preventing Crime

A proactive approach that anticipates, recognizes, and appraises crime risks and initiates action to eliminate or reduce them through community involvement and programs.

Police Mission

The five core operational purposes of policing: enforcing laws, apprehending offenders, preventing crime, preserving domestic peace and tranquility, and providing community enforcement-related activities.

Preserving the Peace

Peace-keeping activities focused on quality-of-life offenses and minor law violations (petty offenses, physical disorder, social decay) that demoralize residents and business owners.

Broken Windows Policing

A strategy focusing on disorder and minor crimes to prevent serious crimes; effective when paired with COP and POP, but ineffective when paired with aggressive zero-tolerance policing.

Community-Oriented Policing (COP)

A strategy based on partnerships between police and community members to solve problems, reduce crime and fear of crime, and improve quality of life through shared responsibility and command decentralization.

Crime Prevention Techniques

Analytical crime reduction approaches including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Problem-Oriented Policing (POP), and Hot Spots Policing.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

A crime prevention technique that alters physical environments to reduce crime opportunities through access control, surveillance, theft-deterrence devices, and security lighting.

Problem-Oriented Policing (POP)

A policing strategy that focuses on identifying and solving the underlying root causes of crime using the SARA model (Scan, Analyze, Respond, Assess).

Hot Spots Policing

A policing approach that concentrates resources on specific geographical areas with high levels of criminal activity; most effective when combined with POP.

Watchman Style

A style of policing characteristic of the Political Era, primarily focused on order maintenance and controlling disruptive behavior through informal police intervention and liberal use of discretion.

Legalistic Style

A style of policing similar to the Reform Era's professional model, enforcing the strict letter of the law and taking a hands-off approach to minor community disputes.

Service Style

A style of policing common today that focuses on meeting community needs, where officers view themselves as helpers or servants rather than soldiers in a war on crime.

Political Era of Policing

The policing era from the 1840s to 1930s characterized by close ties between police and politicians, serving the interests of political figures, and widespread corruption.

Reform Era of Policing

The policing era from 1930 to the 1970s, also called the Professionalism Era, initiated by figures like August Vollmer and O.W. Wilson to establish professional crime-fighting policies.

Community Policing Era

The policing era from the 1970s to today, focused on police-community partnerships to prevent and solve crime by serving citizen needs and identifying community priorities.

New Era of Policing

The policing era from 2001 to today, shaped by 9/11 and concerns over police force, emphasizing homeland security, intelligence-led policing, evidence-based practices, accountability, and de-escalation.