NCJ Number
99901
Date Published
1985
Length
153 pages
Annotation
The text examines police-community relationships in terms of police roles, public expectations and factors affecting them, and police-citizen and police-media relations.
Abstract
The historical context of police-community relations is described in terms of police roles, including service to the public and a deep concern for local government and community participation. Public relations then is considered with respect to its informative, persuasive, and integrative functions. The implications of police discretion and of environmental and psychological factors in the perception of behavior are examined, with emphasis on how these may contribute to a lack of uniformity in law enforcement, bias, and ethnic and racial prejudice and consequent community relations problems. Sources for identifying the different publics which the police serve are noted, and the effects of such characteristics as social class, population density, and geographic areas on public attitudes and community service needs are discussed. Following a review of race relations theory, the history, concerns, attitudes, and values of various minorities are considered. An examination of citizen participation includes public relations and political pressure groups, citizen review and advisory boards, intervention groups, and voluntary groups (e.g., crime prevention groups). Their pros and cons are considered. Finally, the discussion of police-media relations examines how the media's informative and entertainment functions can both facilitate and hamper effective community relations. Discussion questions, an index, and approximately 160 references are provided.