Intro to Policing Chapter 6- Police Work: Operations and Functions

What are the three basic functions of police?

Crime prevention, law enforcement, and order maintenance.

How does the purpose of police work vary across agencies?

While the purpose is the same, the manner in which tasks are performed varies, even within different shifts.

What is the meaning of "order maintenance" in policing?

It refers to interventions with short-term effects to maintain societal stability, often addressing interpersonal conflicts or public nuisances.

What theory suggests that neighborhood social disorder leads to more violent criminal activity?

The Broken Windows Theory.

What is "zero tolerance" policing?

A strict enforcement strategy for minor offenses, often criticized for controversial tactics like mass stop-and-frisks.

Why has police interaction with the mentally ill increased?

Due to the deinstitutionalization of mental health facilities.

What is the Memphis Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) model?

A program providing officers with 40 hours of training to appropriately respond to incidents involving mentally ill individuals.

What is the primary goal of police investigations?

To identify, locate, and arrest suspects for processing through the criminal justice system.

What is the "CSI effect"?

The public's expectation for forensic evidence in criminal trials, influenced by media portrayals of forensics.

How much more effective is DNA evidence in identifying suspects compared to fingerprints?

DNA is approximately five times more effective.

What are the three styles of policing?

Watchman, Legalistic, and Service styles.

What characterizes the Watchman style of policing?

Emphasis on order maintenance with minimal intervention in non-serious matters.

What is a hallmark of the Legalistic style of policing?

Strict law enforcement with frequent issuance of tickets and arrests for minor offenses.

What defines the Service style of policing?

A focus on community needs, informal interventions, and finding alternatives to arrests.

What is preventative patrol?

A strategy aimed at deterring crime and ensuring a timely police response.

What was a key finding of the Kansas City Preventative Patrol Experiment?

Changes in patrol levels had no significant impact on crime deterrence or citizen satisfaction.

What is the purpose of workload analysis in policing?

To determine the number of officers needed based on police performance data.

How does Geographic Information Systems (GIS) aid police patrol?

By tracking crime patterns and helping allocate resources to hotspots.

What are the benefits of foot patrols?

They reduce fear of crime, improve community relations, and increase public satisfaction.

What is the primary advantage of air patrols?

Greater surveillance capacity, with helicopters providing up to 15 times the observation ability of ground units.