Crim chapter 5

Factors that make policing different across Canada

The amount of crime, characteristics of a community, population profile, economic health, and the type of police organization

Proportion of Canadian adults who come into contact with police each year

One-third

Reason Canadians are less trusting and forgiving of police

Recent events in the US and Canada

Impact of police becoming increasingly militarized

It contributes to the mindset that the police are at war with its citizens

The three main operational police roles

Operations, Administration, and Auxiliary services

Description of the Operations role

Includes patrol, traffic enforcement, criminal investigation, and specialized duties like crime prevention, school resources, and community policing

Description of the Administration role

Includes managing day-to-day operations and overseeing human resources, budgeting, and professional standards

Description of the Auxiliary services role

Includes personnel involved in communications, preserving evidence, keeping records, and detention

Challenge related to police deployment and agency funding

Police services are attempting to cut costs without sacrificing services

Term for police services being organized along military lines with a clear chain of command

Paramilitary organizations

Title for most front-line officers

Constables or officers (the RCMP uses the term "members")

Ranks that supervise constables

Corporals, sergeants, inspectors, superintendents, and chiefs

Examples of operational activities carried out by police

Patrol, traffic, criminal investigation, drug suppression, organized crime/gangs, specialized operations, crime prevention, youth services, and community policing

Activity considered the backbone of policing

Patrol

Proportion of officers engaged in patrol work

About two-thirds

Primary activity involved in most patrol work

Responding to calls

Main goal of traffic officers

Save lives and reduce the number of serious collisions

Reason traffic enforcement is especially important in the countryside

Half of all fatalities occur on rural roads

Proportion of officers in investigative roles in larger departments

10-15%

Role of undercover officers in drug suppression

Infiltrating organizations to gather evidence about drug crimes

Approximate number of organized crime groups active in Canada

670

Growing challenge of responding to organized crime

It is becoming increasingly international

Examples of specialized operations units

SWAT/emergency response teams, bomb disposal squads, canine officers, aviation units, and marine units

Type of equipment SWAT teams use in high-risk situations

Military-style equipment

Examples of crime prevention duties

Neighbourhood watch programs and public education campaigns

Role of school resource officers

Forming positive relationships with students and delivering anti-crime or anti-drug programs

Strategy used in some cities to give police a more visible presence

Placing police stations in high crime areas

Purpose of community policing initiatives for visible minorities and Indigenous groups

To build bridges and overcome long-standing distrust of the police

The three functions police departments balance

Law enforcement (legalistic style), order maintenance (watchman style), and providing needed services (service style)

Factor that may attribute to differences in policing styles

Local political culture, as politicians influence how activities are prioritized

Three important issues affecting the relationship between police and the public

Police use of force, police oversight and accountability, and the political independence of police

The only occupation authorized to use force to protect property and the public

Policing

How frequently police use force

It represents a very small percentage of all interactions with the public and is used as a last resort

Concept describing officers answering to the public, chain of command, courts, and oversight bodies

Quadruple jeopardy

Role citizens play in police accountability

They act as watchdogs by capturing video images on mobile phones and posting them online

Standard location for formal guidelines on civilian oversight

The Police Services Act in each province

Term for police misconduct that occurs but is not reported or counted

The dark figure of police misconduct

Reasons citizens might not report misconduct

Mistrust of the police, skepticism that matters will be addressed, or feeling they will not be "heard"

Potential consequences for officers facing substantiated claims

Ranging from a reprimand to the loss of their jobs

Comparison of litigation for improper conduct in Canada vs the US

There is less litigation in Canada

Benefit of body-worn cameras (BWC) and CCTV

They can provide an unbiased record of incidents

Effect of BWC on police behavior

Officers using BWC generate fewer complaints and use of force reports, while making more arrests and issuing more citations

Reason public support is required

The public needs to report crimes, aid in investigations, and appear in court as witnesses

Groups with the greatest confidence in the police

Women, older respondents, and non-visible minorities

Groups with less confidence in the police

Members of visible minority groups or Aboriginal people

Five areas making police work more complex

Increasing legal complexity, technology, civilianization, a representative workforce, and private policing

Result of Supreme Court decisions since the 1990s on police work

Increased expectations to uphold the due process protections of suspects

Danger of officers taking shortcuts that violate constitutional rights

The case might not proceed to court

How technology is changing crime

Leading to new ways of carrying out crimes (e.g., internet-based fraud and cybercrimes by gang members)

Technological resources used in investigations

Social media, cell phone records, surveillance cameras, automated licence plate readers, big data, and predictive software

Definition of civilianization

The employment of civilian personnel in police organizations

The two types of civilian personnel

Administrative support staff and uniformed officers without full police powers

Benefit of employing civilian officials

It is more cost-effective and acts as a bridge between the community and the police

Common criticism of the traditional police workforce

Being too "pale and male"

Proportion of Canadian officers who are women

One in five

Impact of private security in richer communities

It reduces the need for public police in those areas, freeing them to spend time in higher crime areas

Consequence of policing being dangerous and relying on each other for safety

The development of an "us versus them" attitude and in-group solidarity

Negative aspect of the police subculture code

It can lead to further misconduct and a reluctance to confront the misconduct of other officers

View of crime control model advocates

Support hiring more officers and expanding their powers

View of due process position supporters

Argue that police activities should be closely scrutinized by professional standards units, oversight boards, media, and courts