POLICING INTER-COMMUNITY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS - PROPOSED LEGISLATION FOR CHICAGO WITH A CONSIDERATION OF OTHER CITIES

• NCJ Number: 16787
• Author(s): P S WALLACE; R M BUREN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 59 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Department of Transportation
• Corporate Author: University of Illinois, Chicago Circle
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT IS TO PRESENT MODEL LEGISLATION THAT WILL REQUIRE INTER-COMMUNITY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFETY OF THEIR PASSENGERS WHILE USING TRANSIT FACILITIES.

Abstract

AN EFFORT IS MADE TO SHOW WHY THIS LEGISLATION IS NECESSARY AND HOW IT IS A SOLUTION TO THE PRESENT PROBLEM OF HIGH CRIME AND LOW PASSENGER SAFETY ON MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS. WITH METROPOLITAN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AS THE SELECTED EXAMPLE, A RECENT HISTORY IS GIVEN (19671972) OF THE RISE IN TRANSIT CRIME THERE AND THE INADEQUATE POLICE RESPONSE. SOME EXPLANATION FOR THE PRESENT INADEQUATE SITUATION IN CHICAGO IS PROVIDED THROUGH A CONSIDERATION OF THE CONFLICTING PERSPECTIVES AND PRESSURES UPON THE PARTIES INVOLVED: THE PASSENGER, THE SUBURBAN POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY. THEN, THE EFFECTS OF THE PRESENT MULTI-COMMUNITY POLICING ARE STATED AND EXPLAINED. BEFORE GIVING THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION (WITH A COMMENTARY), THE AUTHORS TAKE A BRIEF LOOK AT THE POLICING OF THREE OTHER INTER-COMMUNITY MASS TRANSIT SYSTEMS: BOSTON, CLEVELAND AND TORONTO. SOME BRIEF CONCLUDING REMARKS ARE APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)