NCJ Number
1989
Date Published
1970
Length
144 pages
Annotation
THE CONFLICT BETWEEN SOCIETY'S DEMAND FOR LAW AND ORDER AND THE MEANS GRANTED POLICE FOR ATTAINING THAT GOAL IS EXPLORED ON A PROBLEMATIC BASIS.
Abstract
AS INTERMEDIARIES BETWEEN LAW-BREAKERS AND THE LAWABIDING, BETWEEN OPPONENTS AND UPHOLDERS OF THE STATUS QUO, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE FELT MOST KEENLY THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE POLARIZATION OF ATTITUDES ABOUT THE MEANS TO AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AN ORDERLY SOCIETY. THEY HAVE ENCOUNTERED PARTICULARLY SEVERE CRITICISM ON THREE COUNTS - THEIR BEHAVIOR TOWARD MINORITIES AND LOWER-CLASS PERSONS, THEIR RESPONSE TO MASS DISTURBANCES, SUCH AS RIOTS, AND THEIR SEEMINGLY INEFFECTIVE AND INADEQUATE METHODS OF CRIME PREVENTION. THIS BOOK ADDRESSES ITSELF TO PRECISELY THESE ISSUES. IT COVERS BLACK REVOLTS, POLICE RIOTS, POLICE BRUTALITY, THE ADEQUACY OF CRIME RATE CALCULATIONS, SNIPING, MOTORCYCLE GANGS AND OTHER ISSUES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. IT CONTAINS CASE STUDIES OF PRESENT PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE AND ON-THE-SPOT ACCOUNTS OF THE BEHAVIOR OF POLICE ON THE BEAT, AS WELL AS ANALYSES OF TWO OF THE MAJOR CIVIL DISTURBANCES OF THE DECADE, THE DETROIT RIOT OF 1967 AND THE CHICAGO CONVENTION RIOT OF 1968. THE ESSAYS DESCRIBE THE POTENTIAL USEFULNESS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN WORKING OUT ALTERNATIVES TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER BY VIOLENCE AND ALSO POINT OUT THE POTENTIAL DANGER OF EMPLOYING SOCIAL SCIENCE TECHNIQUES TO JUSTIFY THE ORGANIZED SUPPRESSION OF PERSONS LIKELY TO CAUSE TROUBLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)