POLICE RESPONSE TO POLITICAL CRIMES AND ACTS OF TERRORISM - SOME DIMENSIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

• NCJ Number: 29824
• Author(s): C P MCDOWELL; J P HARLAN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 18 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT ANNUAL MEETING OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, TORONTO, OCT 30 - NOV 2, 1975

Annotation

POLICE RESPONSES TO SUCH ACTS ARE IN FACT A FUNCTION OF THOSE ACTS 'PER SE,' AND AMERICAN POLICE ARE BEING CONFRONTED WITH A NEW CATEGORY OF EVENT FOR WHICH THEY ARE NEITHER ADEQUATELY PREPARED NOR PROPERLY ORGANIZED.

Abstract

AS A CONSEQUENCY OF THESE SHORTCOMINGS, THE POLICE MAY RUN THE RISK OF COPING WITH ACTS OF TERRORISM AND POLITICAL CRIMES IN WAYS WHICH ARE INCONSISTENT WITH DEMOCRATIC LEGAL NORMS, SUCH AS THE GATHERING OF POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE ON INDIVIDUALS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY 'MIGHT' DO, ELECTRONIC INTERCEPTS, AND/OR MAIL COVERS. TENTATIVE WAYS OF MEETING THESE CHALLENGES INCLUDE TASK FORCE CASE MANAGEMENT AND CONTINGENCY PLANNING. UNDER THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, THE CORE ELEMENT OF THE TASK FORCE WOULD BE COMPOSED OF POLICE OFFICERS WHOSE PRIMARY DUTIES ARE THE GATHERING OF INTELLIGENCE. HOWEVER, THE ESTABLISHING OF TARGET PRIORITIES, CASE REVIEW, AND THE ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONS WOULD INCLUDE INPUT FOR OTHER SOURCES, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY'S OFFICE AND THE JUDICIARY. CONTINGENCY PLANNING COULD BE CARRIED OUT WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OF LEAA.