NCJ Number
231339
Journal
International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice Volume: 34 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2010 Pages: 119-137
Date Published
2010
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study examined the success of democratization efforts of law enforcement agencies in countries under military occupation.
Abstract
Fundamental to Bayley's three-step process of democratizing police is the development of interim civilian police to enforce law, prevent crime and maintain order. The United States, NATO, and other political organizations have uniformly focused recent studies of police democratization on post Cold-War bilateral and multilateral efforts. Focusing on the police as the essential protector of the populace's democratic rights, this study applies Weber's comparative method to analyze two proven successes in democratization, West Germany and Japan, developing lessons that may inform future peacekeeping and stability operation efforts to democratize police. In the development of sustainable democratic-criminal justice agencies, this study identified six fundamental processes: decentralize control, civilianize central administration, demilitarize and disarm existing forces, but rearm reconstituted forces, standardize recruitment and training, and most importantly, maintain flexibility in dealing with existing political and cultural norms. Table, notes, and references (Published Abstract)