NCJ Number
128466
Journal
American Journal of Police Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: special issue (1990) Pages: 189-196
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Problem-oriented policing, the emerging police strategy for controlling crime, requires better educated and trained police officers and new standards of police performance.
Abstract
Problem-oriented policing does not intend to address the underlying causes of deviance, disorder, or crime; rather, it is concerned with managing constellations of mediating factors in crime and disorder that can be controlled with practical measures. Such a strategy requires problem recognition, study, analysis, a strategy for attacking it, the securing of cooperation from various sources, and the mobilization of trust and support in the affected community. The complex enterprise of problem-oriented policing requires an officer with special skills of analysis, interpersonal relations, and responsible decisionmaking. Such skills require a college education and postgraduate professional training. Problem-oriented policing also requires a new standard for police performance that shifts the focus from legalistic obedience to regulations to workmanship accountability. The question to be asked of police performance is not whether it complied with rules and regulations, but whether it demonstrated adequacy of skill, knowledge, judgment, efficiency, and other relevant criteria of professional performance. 9 references