Little information is available on the police prior to the 1959 revolution, except that they were an integral part of the repressive system. Although economically dependent on the Soviet Union, the Cuban social and criminal justice systems are more similar to those of Chinese communism than of Soviet communism. After the revolution, the national revolutionary militia, the police, and the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) were responsible for maintaining law and order. The police organization operates at central, provincial, and local levels. While police operations are to some extent influenced by the CDRs, the organization is more centralized, militaristic, and autonomous than in China. The postrevolutionary force was composed of mostly loyal recruits from the rebel army, many from lower classes; and in this sense, the police were representative of the people. The CDRs provide a link between central government and local community and form the basis for a number of welfare and crime-related initiatives. With increased Soviet influence and a shift toward professionalism in the public sector, the police system is gradually becoming a more traditional force.