Nutile CJ 101: Chapter 5- Policing: History & Structure

What model is the American policing system based on?

The British model.

When did English law enforcement start?

1200

Who was obligated to respond for cries of help?

All "able-bodied men" were obligated to respond to cries for help by joining together in a "posse" to search for the suspect when a crime was committed.

What is a posse?

A body of men.

Who led a posse?

The shire reeve or comes stabuli.

What is a shire reeve?

The leader of the county.

Define comes stabuli.

Mounted officers.

How old is the office of the sheriff?

More than 1,000 years old.

What does "reeve" mean?

Administrative office.

What does "shire" mean?

Equivalent of a county.

What terms did sheriff and constable derived from?

"Shire reeve" and "comes stabuli."

Were trials back then as common as they are today?

Trials were rare. The guilt of a suspect was usually assumed.

Where did some suspects seek shelter?

Churches

How were these individuals punished once they were caught?

They were tortured in public.

Why were they tortured in public?

To deter others.

What are watchmen?

In English towns and cities, law enforcement initially relied on watchmen. Night watchmen would watch for fires and thieves and "rouse up" people when something was spotted.

Who codified police practices?

King Edward I

What did the Statute of Winchester (1285) establish?

(1) "Watch" and "Ward" system.

(2) Mandated the drafting of men to serve as "watchmen."

(3) Citizens who did not respond to cries for help could be punished.

(4) Mandated that all homes contain a weapon for use in responding to cries.

Around 1720 what fueled the creation of a more established police agency?

Gin: it was potent, inexpensive, and available.

- Binge drinking, rioting, and crime became a problem.

- People could no longer perform watch duties.

What are the Bow Street Runners?

In 1750, Sir Henry Fielding became magistrate of London's Bow Street region.

He attracted a number of dedicated men to serve as officers, patrolling streets and highways leading to London.

Who established what is now considered the world's first modern police force?

Sir Robert Peel (1829) "Father of policing"

How many officers made up this force?

1,000 officers called bobbies made up this force, which;

- Was uniformed

- Was structured along military lines

- Became a model for police forces worldwide

Why was the early American law enforcement unique?

It was unique due to colonialism and expansionism.

Define "decentralized."

Geographically, areas would be patrolled.

What is vigilantism?

The act of taking the law into one's own hands.

Which city established the 1st publicly funded police force?

Boston, Massachusetts

What century was the era of political machines?

The 19th century

What did these political leaders do?

These political leaders ran taverns & street gangs to intimidate voters.

Who was the 1st African American police officer appointed to the Brooklyn PD?

Wiley G. Overton

Who was the 1st African American police officer?

Samuel Battle

Who was the 1st female police officer.

Alice Stebbins Wells (LA PD)

Who was the 1st female African American police officer?

Georgia Ann Robinson

What inventions were introduced in the 20th century?

Inventions like the telephone, cars, radios, and call-box system of telephones were introduced.

What were call boxes?

Call boxes were installed in 1880.

Citizens could report crimes and patrol officers could communicate.

What vehicle came out in 1920?

The Ford Model T, which was utilized by the police.

What year and city did the 1st police vehicle come out?

1899, Akron, Ohio

By what year did the NYPD have a full fleet of patrol vehicles?

1920

The first 1-way radio?

In 1928, the 1st 1-way radio system was invented in Detroit.

- A patrolman came up with it.

- Linked police and cruisers.

The first 2-way radio?

In 1933, the 1st 2-way radio system was in Bayonne, NJ.

- A police lieutenant came up with it.

- Police stations were able to communicate with one another.

What was the "Dark Period of Law Enforcement?" (1920s)

During prohibition:

There was a lot of crime in support of the sale of "bootlegged" liquor.

This was a dark period for American law enforcement.

Corruption flourished as some police officers were accepting "payoffs" to look away.

What was the Wickersham Commission? (1931)

Led by George Wickersham, eventually recognized that prohibition was "unenforceable and carried a great potential for police corruption."

What Amendment repealed the Prohibition?

21st amendment

What was the KNAPP Commission?

- Investigated police corruption in NYC.

- Named after Whitman Knapp (federal judge).

- The 5-member panel was initially formed in April 1970 by Mayor John Lindsay to investigate corruption within NYPD.

NYPD Officer Frank Serpico

- Exposed corruption in the NYPD.

- In 1971, he testified before the Knapp Commission.

Serpico was bothered by what he saw as the department's widespread corruption and bribery by his fellow officers.

- He had to retire because his fellow cops were not willing to protect or help him because they were upset.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

- World's most famous law enforcement agency.

- It was designed to investigate political and business corruption.

State Level Agencies

- Most state police agencies were created in the late 19th or early 20th century.

- The Texas Rangers were the first (1823).

- NJ State Police (1921).

What are the different types of local agencies?

- Municipal Police Departments

- Sheriffs Departments,

- Specialized groups: college campus police and transit police.

How many law enforcement agencies are in NJ and how many people do they employ?

550 law enforcement agencies employing approximately 33,700 sworn police officers.

What are the responsibilities of sheriffs departments?

- Responsible for law enforcement throughout their counties:

- Mostly patrol the unincorporated areas that lie between municipalities.

- County parks & county roads.

- Often operate county jails.

- Collect and process crime scene evidence.

- Serve court papers and subpoenas

- Maintain security in state courtrooms.

What is the 4th level of enforcement activity in the U.S. today?

Private Protective Services.

What are private protective services?

- Are privately funded, for profit-agencies

- Provide a variety of security-related services to their clientele (which includes governments).

- Employ more people than public police.

Why was there growth of private protective services?

- An increase in crime in the workplace.

- An increase in fear of crime and terrorism.

- The fiscal crises of states.