Different Methods of Policing

Different Methods of Policing

Taylor Hedrick

Kaplan University

Introduction to Crime Analysis

Different Methods of Policing

        In todays world there are a lot of ways that law enforcement is carried out that make them look like they are the bad guys. There have been tensions between certain areas of the criminal justice system for a long time. Some of the issues that have risen are specific to police departments but other issues are institutional. In light of these issues, it becomes necessary for people to analyze the various methods of policing that have developed among the years, and how each method compares to one another. An analysis should be done on the alternative methods of policing, and their effectiveness in crime prevention. Starting with the standard model of policing and comparing all of the methods of policing, information can be obtained as to what needs to be changed about modern day law enforcement to increase effectiveness.

        The Standard Model of Policing set the standard for policing across the country. This model of policing is what one tends to envision when one thinks about what policing is. Standard Model of Policing consists of random patrols through streets, in hopes of creating the feeling that police are anywhere at anytime, and it increases the chances of officers catching more crimes in progress. Officers are trained to quickly respond to service calls to attempt to stop criminals before they make their escape. When crimes have already been committed and more evidence and information is needed, then officers will follow up with the parties involved to glean further knowledge and heighten the likelihood that a crime will be solved (Santos 2017). This method of policing has been used for years, but crime has not lessened to an extent that would leave experts feeling like there may be no better way to conduct criminal justice. As a result of this, further theories and methods have arisen.

        One of the new methods is known as Community Policing, it is relatively well known. Community Policing promotes closer involvement by police officers in the community that they serve in. To truly embrace Community Policing, change must come from the police department itself. From there changes need to be enacted to increase the involvement of the community in the criminal justice process, and more emphasis put on a problem solving approach. Community Policing focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the communities. The goal is for police officers to build relationships with the community through local interactions with local agencies and members of the public. Community policing targets more low level crime and disorders; the broken windows theory proposes that this can reduce more serious crime as well. The Clinton administration took the Community Policing program and heavily promoted it, offering grants for departments to train officers in the methods used. They did a study that looked to measure how much the Community Program affected not only how citizens viewed police in terms of legitimacy, and how satisfied they were by the services that law enforcement was providing them (Gill et al, 2014).

        Another model of policing is Problem Oriented Policing (POP). POP was created because policing was beginning to focus more on organizational specifics than on the issues that they are actually in place for, crime in society (Goldstein 2005). There are different elements of POP similar to what I talked about relating to Community Policing, such as working on community relations to help with crime control. Most of the other elements of POP are a little different, such as focusing not only on criminal law but also bringing in civil statues in the approach to crime fighting. Using these different resources is a necessary measure to not only address the issues from which the civil disorder and crime originate, but also in reaching ideas to address these issues when they arise, and thereby better solve the problems that create the opportunity for criminal acts to take place (Weisburd, 2010). Problem Oriented Policing has proven to be one of the more popular methods of policing.

        Another method of policing, Hot Spot Policing focuses more on the principle that crime is not evenly distributed in all areas, but “clustered in small areas or hot spots, that account for disproportionate amount of crime and disorder (“Policing Strategies”, 2017). Researchers look to develop ways to target specific high crime areas to effectively reduce the crime-taking place within them, and to not push the offenders in to other areas. There has to be proof that a positive effect is made in the hot spot itself. Multiple experiments were conducted, including one by the National Institute of Justice (“Policing Strategies”, 2017), on hot spot areas in cities. Results from increased patrol and police presence was not altered, and there were definite effects of reduced criminal activity in the areas in which police presence was increased (Weisburd 2005). Hot spot policing covers a range of police responses that all share in common a focus of resources on the locations where crime is highly concentrated.