PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF MOBS AND RIOTS

• NCJ Number: 59
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1967
• Length: 111 pages
• Grant Number(s): OLEA-67-026
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Fargo Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Abstract

THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS BOOKLET ARE - (1) TO SET FORTH THE LAWFUL BASIS FOR POLICE ACTION IN RIOTOUS SITUATIONS, (2) TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE UNDERLYING FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CIVIL DISTURBANCES, AND (3) TO OUTLINE SOME OF THE PROCEDURES AND TECHNIQUES LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE EMPLOYED TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY AND TO RESTORE THE PUBLIC PEACE WHEN RIOTS HAVE OCCURRED. THE PREVENTION OF RIOTS OR THE RESTORATION OF PUBLIC ORDER IS A HIGHLY COMPLEX AND DEMANDING ASSIGNMENT. MOB ACTION IS USUALLY GENERATED BY STRONG EMOTIONAL FACTORS AND, CONSEQUENTLY, MAY NOT BE SUSCEPTIBLE OF ACCURATE PREDICTION. IN ANY TREATMENT OF MOBS AND RIOTS, EMPHASIS MUST BE PLACED WHERE IT BELONGS--ON PLANNING FOR PREVENTION. PREVENTIVE EFFORTS MUST BE A TOTAL UTILIZATION OF ALL RESOURCES AND MUST, OF NECESSITY, INCLUDE LAW ENFORCEMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CIVIC LEADERS, AND MASS MEDIA. PREVENTIVE PLANNING IS FACILITATED THROUGH AN UNDERSTANDING OF CROWD BEHAVIOR, BASIC PSYCHOLOGY, GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS, EFFICIENT POLICE INTELLIGENCE, AND GOOD JUDGMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)