Police Functions and Units

These flashcards focus on key vocabulary terms and their definitions from the lecture on police functions and units.

Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT)

Specially trained units that handle law enforcement crises, especially with mentally ill subjects.

Department of Homeland Security

Created after 9/11 to improve information sharing among law enforcement agencies.

Order Maintenance

A policing approach focused on maintaining public order rather than strictly enforcing laws.

Zero-Tolerance Tactics

Aggressive policing strategies that can alienate police from the community.

Mission Statement

A statement that outlines the agency’s goals and core values.

Hierarchical Structure

A system where command is organized in levels from top management to line personnel.

Quasi-Military Model

A police structure characterized by a rigid hierarchy and military-like organization.

Decentralized Policing

Organizational structure where power is spread throughout lower levels to aid in flexibility and responsiveness.

Undercover Operations

Covert operations where officers pose as criminals or victims to apprehend offenders.

Entrapment

Occurs when law enforcement induces a person to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed.