U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

DOES SOCIETY EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM ITS POLICE?

NCJ Number
60409
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 218-228
Author(s)
P MCLAREN
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS WHICH BRITISH CITIZENS HAVE OF THEIR POLICE ARE ASSESSED.
Abstract
APART FROM THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHOSE WAY OF LIFE IS REGULARLY INVOLVED WITH THE POLICE, WHETHER AS AN OFFENDER OR A CRIMINAL JUSTICE EMPLOYEE, THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS LITTLE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE POLICE. THE AVERAGE CITIZEN'S VIEWS OF THE POLICE ARE FORMED BY THE CONDITIONING OF CLASS, EDUCATION, THE LITERARY WORLD, AND THE MASS MEDIA. CITIZENS TEND TO TAKE FOR GRANTED THE DAILY EXPERIENCE OF REASONABLE FREEDOM, THE SAFE PURSUIT OF AN INCOME, AND THE PLEASURE OF FAMILY LIFE AND LEISURE. SHOULD THIS BE DISRUPTED BY CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION OR A TRAFFIC TICKET, THE POLICE ARE VIEWED AS INCOMPETENT OR BOTHERSOME. IN EFFECT, THE AVERAGE CITIZEN EXPECTS THE POLICE TO PROVIDE WHAT THEY WANT WHILE PROTECTING THEM FROM WHAT THEY DO NOT WANT. THE STORAGE OF POLICE MANPOWER PRODUCED BY LOW WAGES COUPLED WITH HIGH CITIZEN EXPECTATIONS TEND TO DRAW EVEN MORE CRITICISM OF THE POLICE, BASED ON IDEALISTIC AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT THE POLICE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH. POLICE CANNOT EXECUTE THE LEVEL OF EFFICIENT LAW ENFORCEMENT CITIZENS WANT IN THE FACE OF POSSIBLE LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OBSTACLES TO THE CONVICTION OF OFFENDERS. LEGAL PROTECTIONS HAVE NOW SWUNG SO FAR TOWARD THE ACCUSED, THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT CANNOT PROVIDE THE KIND OF CERTAINTY OF ARREST AND CONVICTION OF CRIMINALS THAT CITIZENS MAY WISH. A RESTORATION OF EQUILIBRIUM TO THE MACHINERY OF JUSTICE SO THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE GUILTY ARE CONVICTED WITHOUT UNDULY ENDANGERING THE RIGHTS OF THE INNOCENT IS CRUCIAL IF THE CITIZEN IS TO FEEL SECURE, AND THE EFFECTS OF POLICE WORK CAN APPROXIMATE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. (RCB)

Downloads

No download available

Availability