Analysis Of Crime Control Strategies Used By Law Enforcement Agencies

Policing is a very difficult, complex and dynamic field of endeavor that is always evolves as hard lessons teach us what we need to know about what works and what don’t work. There are three different Era’s in America’s policing: The Political Era, The Reform Era, and The Community Problem Solving Era. A lot has changed in the way that policing works over the years in the United States.

Due to these apparent successes, the problem-focused approach has been used to address a diverse array of problems such as gangs, drugs, school crime and the management of police call for service in urban, suburban and even rural communities. The exploration of possible responses to a problem is handled by police officers. Once a problem is identified, officers are expected to work closely with the community members to develop a solution, which can include a wide range of alternatives to arrest. These may focus on the offender, the community, the environment, outside agencies, or the need for some kind of mediation. Problem-oriented policing grew out of twenty years of research into police practices, and differs from traditional policing strategies in many significant ways. For example, problem-oriented policing enables police agencies to be more effective. Currently, police agencies commit most of their time to responding to calls for service. Problem-oriented policing offers a more effective strategy by addressing the

One of the main aspects of criminal justice systems is crime prevention. Crime prevention is compromised of a system that uses methods and ideas to reduce the causes of crime and eliminate them. Typically, law enforcement and similar agencies practice crime prevention strategies in order to be able to enforce the law. Many agencies have developed their own methods to combat crime and prevent it from reoccurring through the use of informants, laws, and other tactics. Crime prevention is fundamental to have a safer neighborhood and there are many different strategies that are currently being used on the field. Crime prevention can be taken on by a lot of different people; police officers as well as community members can take certain measures

When comparing the crime control law enforcement approach in contrast to the approach the rights-based approach to law enforcement it is import to the differences in being a crime fighter versus a public servant. The dynamics of each bring uniquely different philosophical objectives and outcomes for the public. What is the primary role of law enforcement? Some would argue combating crime is the primary role. Others would argue providing protection through service is the primary role. In either case, when examining each philosophy it is important to objectively view the outcomes each provides.

Community policing has evolved to be the most used strategy for policing. “It is an approach to crime detection and prevention that provides police officers and supervisors with new tools for addressing recurrent problems that plague communities and consume a majority of police agency time and resources” (Peak, 2012, 65). It has been defined by various people differently. But all the definitions have similar principles (Chappell, 2009). They focus on proactive problem solving and create relationships with the community to address any issue that may arise. Community policing is a combination of client-oriented and problem-oriented policing.

Fear of crime, especially random violence and new wave of "superpredators" by young Americans, is among the nation's greatest concerns (Lacayo 28). It has served as the motivation for countless numbers of people to change their lifestyles, take self-defense classes, install home security

The current state of overall safety within the US is undeniably at, what appears to be, an all time low. The rate of crime is a prominent factor that works to decrease the overall safety within the country. With a reduction of these crime rates, the US can be made safer for the general public. New tools--such as laws and apps--must be implemented in order to reduce crime rates.

This paper will cover two policing styles known as the “broken windows” theory and community policing. The paper will end with a small analysis of which style would be more practical long-term. This paper will start with an explanation as to what the “broken windows” theory is. Furthermore, this paper will cover some of advantages and disadvantages of that theory when put into practical application. Additionally, this essay will explain what “community policing” as defined by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This is followed by a brief discussion some advantages and challenges that are unique to that approach. Lastly, this paper covers which one would be more viable policing in the long-term.

The integrated patrol strategy brings a community-oriented concept of supervising into play, which law-breaking prevention and reduction efforts are functional on a broader scale, rather than concentrating specifically on a group of people within a particular location. The integrated patrol strategy, also calls for more improved fact-finding processes and data distribution between organizations to help in effective solutions to resolving crimes and chase tendencies and configurations, as well as, the potential to toughen contacts between agencies at all levels. Paralleled to the traditional enforcement strategy which reacted to crime after the fact, and only relating different emphases to certain situations,

Of the many policing strategies that have been used, Broken Windows Policing is one that has remained questionable when it comes to its effectiveness. The model of Broken Windows Policing focuses on how disorder is important in generating and sustaining serious crime. The model does not suggest that there is a direct link between disorder and serious crime but instead that disorder may lead to an increased fear and withdrawal from the residents in the surrounding area, which then allows more serious crime to happen because there is a decreased level of social control. The theory also states that police are able to play a large role in stopping this process by focusing on disorder and less serious crime. By doing this, the police would be able to decrease fear and resident withdrawal in the area. By promoting and implementing higher levels of social control, residents will be better able to have more control of their neighborhood and prevent serious crimes from happening (“Broken Windows Policing” n.d.).

The theory that changed the way I look at things is the Crime Control Theory. Crime control model, with higher reliance on the investigatory and prosecutorial officers in the society, argues the importance of repression of crime. It thinks that a free and safe society should be based on the maximum reduction of crime perpetration. As such, crime control theory argues that criminal justice should concentrate on the protection of victim's rights rather than the defendant's rights and police powers should be reasonably extended so that the law enforcement could protect the law-abiding members of the citizens to its fullest extent, and the punishment should be swift and certain to discourage the future offenses and will-be offenders. In contrast to the due process model, crime control model assumes a suspect to be guilty until the fact-finding process suggests him or her to be innocent and the objective of discovering the truth rather than protecting the innocence or liberty of citizens are highly valued.

As noted in Sherman and Weisburd’s article, the majority of neighborhoods in cities have few serious crimes annually (Sherman & Weisburd, 1995). Preliminary research suggests that the use of hot spot policing of crime can prevent crime without displacing disorder and/or the criminal element to other parts of the community (Braga, 2001). Although there is a call for more research in reference to policy implications and community reaction, research has found that proactive police activity that is focused on police interventions, strategic arrests, and interventions has had a drastic impact on crime prevention (Sherman, 1997). The success of this style of patrol is highlighted in the quasi-experimental evaluations by Anthony Braga, in which he demonstrates a significant decline in crime in seven out of nine studies (Braga, 2001). Organizationally, neighborhoods would be (as in both random and directed patrol) split up in beats/sectors so as to maintain accountability and organization. These beats would then be assigned to patrol units where a set amount of units would respond to calls for service, while others would conduct hot spot patrols while occasionally conducting random patrol to maintain citizen ideals of public safety and law enforcement accountability.

The United States of America saw an estimated 1,197,704 violent crimes in 2015 (FBI, 2016). The different types of crime that are included within this statistic are rapes, aggravated assaults, robberies, and murders (FBI, 2016). It is astounding that there are this many crimes that are happening in this country alone in one year. This statistic of crime doesn’t even include the amount of property crimes that occurred in 2015. Even though crime has been declining over the past few decades, there is still too much crime that is going on across the nation. Police departments are having difficult times keeping up with the amount of calls for service received daily. Something needs to be done to drastically reduce the amounts of crime in the

The studies and research of crime prevention programs in a specific area may overlook the reasoning and effects of reduced criminal activities that are reviewed. Crime Displacement and Diffusion play a vital role in crime prevention in the society as a whole. Displacement is very important when determining if a program or initiative works, regarding crime prevention as well as reduction of crimes in a particular area. Neighborhood watch and block groups and crime television shows are different forms of crime preventions within a community and outside the community. The Bureau of Justice Assistance states, “There are a variety of crime prevention programs/ strategies that use specific approaches to anticipate, recognize, appraise, and address crime and/or the factors contributing to crime. Crime prevention may be targeted at different levels including the individual, community, family, or particular types of locations.” (Office of Justice Programs, 2015)

The focus of this paper will be based upon different crime prevention strategies implemented by members of the communities, local and government authorities.