NCJ Number
10130
Journal
Psychology Today Volume: 6 Issue: 8 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 45-50
Date Published
1973
Length
6 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF 28 OF THE POLICE GROUPS ORGANIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN THE 1960'S BY CITIZENS CONCERNED WITH POLICING THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.
Abstract
THE GROUPS WERE DIVIDED INTO SUPPLEMENTAL OR ADVERSARIAL GROUPS IN REGARD TO EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTIONS AND WERE FURTHER SEGREGATED ACCORDING TO POLICE RESPONSE TO THESE GROUPS. SUCH RESPONSES RANGED FROM OUTRIGHT ENCOURAGEMENT OR NON-INTERFERENCE ON ONE HAND TO OPPOSITION AND COMPLETE SUPPRESSION ON THE OTHER. INCLUDED IN THIS WORK IS A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN THE BOSTON AREA TO DETERMINE THE PUBLIC'S ATTITUDE, WHICH COVERED THE DEGREE OF OVERALL SUPPORT OF THE GROUP AND CITIZENS WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST OR EVEN JOIN THE ORGANIZATION. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT CIVILIAN POLICE GROUPS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BECOME PERMANENT FACTORS IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. THEY DO, HOWEVER, STATE THAT THEIR EMERGENCE INDICATES EVIDENCE OF DISSATISFACTION WITH STEPS TAKEN TO FIGHT CRIME AND THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THIS PHENOMENA WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO ARISE SPORADICALLY UNTIL THE DISSATISFACTION IS REMOVED. (SNI ABSTRACT)