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

Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program, Washington, DC (District of Columbia) - Police Patrol Development Background

NCJ Number
82873
Author(s)
T Sweeney
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
The film reviews the historical evolution of policing and explains the Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program (ICAP), the culmination of this development, in terms of basic themes that constitute the program framework (proactive patrol, time management, evaluation).
Abstract
The policeman as thug, deriving authority from improper political influence and exercising uneven enforcement policies, was characteristic of American police forces throughout the 1930's. Gradually, the professional school of policing emerged: police organization was given a military structure with internal cohesion that isolated it from political corruption; emphasis was placed on technological and administrative functions. Throughout this time, patrol remained the basic pattern of police work, carried on without special attention or direction. Based on area knowledge and people contact, the simple concept of patrol was to respond to calls for service and reduce crime by the police presence. ICAP initiates a new era in policing in that patrol is the force's most productive element with the greatest influence on citizen satisfaction and the greatest potential for improved efficiency through minimal operational changes and expenditure. ICAP encourages a flexible, proactive mode of patrol with diminished use of random preventive patrol; time management through prioritization of calls; increased involvement with neighborhood social problems and public education; and emphasis on operational participatory planning, development of support units for patrol activities, and evaluation of response activities through an ongoing data gathering process. This renewed approach to patrol policing enhances the status of police officers and provides greater job satisfaction through variety and challenge.