P1

When and where did modern policing begin to appear?

14th Century in France and the 19th Century in England

What is the fundamental difference between police power and military power?

Police are a civil power that maintains order. Military is used in war to kill and destroy the enemy.

What problem arises when police are trained like the military?

May start to think in terms of an "enemy" and a "them vs. us" mentality. Contradicts their mission to serve the public

What were three early forms of policing mentioned?

Hue and Cry, Vigilantes and Bounty Hunters, and the Statute of Winchester (which made it a crime not to assist).

What has a historical study of policing from 5 B.C. to today consistently revealed?

A history of abuse and corruption.

What are some obstacles to changing the criminal justice system in the US/NJ?

Small departments, internal promotions, home rule (local control).

What is Common Law?

A body of law developed primarily from judicial decisions based on custom and precedent. Borrowed from England

What is Statutory Law?

Laws passed by legislative bodies

Who is Sir Robert Peel and what is he known as?

The "founder of modern policing." Established the London PD via the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829.

According to Peel, what is the basic mission of police?

To prevent crime and disorder.

What is the test of police efficiency, according to Peel?

The absence of crime, not the visible evidence of police action.

What Peel mean by the principle of "police are public and public are police"?

Police should be part of the community, not an invading army.

According to Peel, when should physical force be used?

Only as a last resort.

What is Crime Prevention?

The anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of crime risks and the steps taken to remove or reduce them.

What are the three components of the Crime Triangle?

Criminal, Victim, Opportunity (C-V-O). Prevention involves "target hardening" to remove the opportunity.

According to Peel, Police can preserve public favor by..?

Providing impartial service

According to Peel, how is public cooperation tied ot physical force?

More public cooperation = less force

According to Peel, community respect towards police is tied to?

Willing co-operation of community and voluntary compliance to law

According to Peel, when it comes to judiciary, police should never?

Usurp the judiciary power (using discretion when it comes to violations)

What was the primary problem with the first officers hired under Peel's model in London?

Drinking (military influence). In the first 8 years, turnover was extremely high.

Why was there initial resistance to creating a police force in the U.S.?

Fear that a PD would threaten freedom, Resistance to paying for it, Fear of the power it would hold.

What was law enforcement like in colonial American cities?

“Totally incompetent.", Constables were paid through fines, Cities like 1840s New York were considered lawless.

How did law enforcement differ between the North and South in colonial America?

North: Watch systems, often described as incompetent.

South: Slave Patrols, where the patrol function was first accepted as a police practice.

What dominated early policing in the 19th century?

Local politics: Police served as the enforcement arm of the political party, leading to little public respect.

"Police War of 1857" in New York City

A conflict between the NYC Police and the state-controlled Metro Police. State militia was called, Mayor was arrested. Metro force eventually became the NYPD.

What tradition developed from the mutual disrespect between police and the community?

A tradition of police brutality. Officers used billy clubs to gain authority that was not freely given.

Posse Comitatus Act of 1879

Forbids the use of the military to enforce civilian law

Who was Allen Pinkerton and what did he establish?

He established a detective agency in 1850, known for catching train robbers and protecting the interests of the wealthy (railroads, bankers).

What are the two types of private policing?

Proprietary (in-house, like GM or J&J). Contract – Uniform.

Besides law enforcement, what other duties did early American police have?

Cleaning streets, Inspecting boilers, Caring for the poor/homeless, Operating ambulances, etc

What was the significance of the Boston Police Strike of 1919?

Led to firing of all strikers, and public support turned against the police. Ended police unionism for years.

What was the impact of Prohibition (Volstead Act, 18th Amendment) on policing?

Led to the birth of organized crime. Made local law enforcement even more corrupt.

Wickersham Commission (1929)

The first national study of the criminal justice system. Found police were criminal, inept, inefficient, racist, and brutal, and extensively used the "third degree" (torture) to get confessions.

August Vollmer

"Father of American modern policing." A key figure in moves toward professionalism.

Why was the most turbulent era for U.S. policing?

1960s to 1970s

What were key developments in policing during the 1980s and 1990s?

Computers, Community policing, Zero tolerance/3-strikes laws, Increased jail populations, CompStat, High-profile cases like Rodney King and O.J. Simpson.

What are the four styles of leadership mentioned?

Autocratic, Participatory, Democratic, Laissez Faire.

Which police shift is typically the busiest?

The afternoon shift.

What are some key trends and issues in policing from 2000 to the present?

Crime rate fluctuations, CompStat adoption, Homeland security post-9/11, Militarization of police, Active shooter debates, "pro-police" vs. "defund police" movements, Impact of technology.