Arguably, the world today has become an avenue of criminal activities. The society has become very volatile, and in most extreme situations, gangs have taken full control of the streets. As a matter of fact, criminal activities affect various sectors of every nation, which include social, economic, as well as political. Therefore, there are many strategies, models and styles that have been established to control crime. In Illinois land area, one of strategies to control crime is community policing. There is a tremendous consensus within the police departments that community policing is among the best strategy for controlling and fighting crime in Illinois and its residential neighborhoods. Certainly, the strategy is based on community-police reciprocity; in this case, the public and the police work together to solve crime as well as preventing its occurrence.
Undeniably, the essential premise of this advancement it that police have the mandate to control crime locally in Illinois and its neighborhood, instead of following commands and dictates from the head department of police in United States. Certainly, community policing always puts much importance on decentralization of command into states, by increasing interaction and communication between the police and citizens. The community policing model asserts that the public are mostly informed on crime activities and criminal in the neighborhood. Therefore, their inclusion in fighting crime is a boost to the police department in fighting crime. The police are mostly involved in foot patrols so that they can talk and walk with the public (Engel, Frank, & Novak, 2002).
Illinois City and its neighborhood incorporate into the people a zero level tolerance attitude towards disorder and minor crimes so as to enhance a feeling of safety in the community. The police are no-longer the only custodians of maintain order and law, all members of the public are also part of the team enhancing quality and safety of neighborhoods. Community policing puts its focus on social disorder and crime through police service delivery which include law enforcement, problem solving, and prevention, partnership as well as community involvement. The Illinois believes that community policing model put into balance various reactive responses based on pro-active problem solving technique, centered on disorder and causes (Mirsky, 2009).
Association of Chiefs of Police in Illinois, and their partners trust community policing as an effectual approach for combating crime. The model encourages police officers to be in joint venture with the public, to be critical thinkers in solving and identifying problems. In jurisdictions, community policing is very handy and can be applicable in solving problems affecting specific community (Johnson & Engel, 2000). Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police encourages law enforcement departments to apply for recognition in adopting innovative and proactive philosophy in suppressing criminal activities. The agencies include county, state, university as well as municipal. The application in participating in community policing will be granted on merit.
Perhaps, the application process requires applications, site visit, site report and application reviews, and finally recognition awarding. During the assessment and recognition of agencies to participate in community policing, specific elements are observed. These elements include training, empowerment, problem solving, external support, proactive policing, value and mission statements, as well as a partnership with the public (Mirsky, 2009). Hence, an agency in need of recognition should demonstrate that they meet all the elements, by instituting and addressing in various ways.
In the recent years, the movements and mobilization of community policing has increased momentarily, the community leaders and police in Illinois serve for effective and efficient ways to improve the quality of life. Currently, sheriffs, police officials, and chiefs are assessing on orientation, operational and organizational changes that will make community policing beneficial. As a matter of fact, community policing take in various practical and philosophical approaches of which it is evolving tremendously.
In the past, issues to decide to arrest individuals in society, has been controversial in many ways. Certainly, the situational and community variables on issues of arrest decisions of police officers who have implemented community policing is influenced. Police officers frequently use discretion in invoking the criminal justice system (Engel, Frank & Novak, 2002). The introduction of community policing as an alternative strategy of policing has challenged the ability to and understanding of predicting police officers decision to arrest. Therefore, the main intend of community policing in Illinois and its neighborhoods
Undeniably, the era of community policing has become very influential in police decision making as well as policy making process. Probably, the liability appended to officers in the police department is massive; in addition, improper activities associated with police officers are approximately $780 billion. Therefore, the main intend of community policing in Illinois and its neighborhoods is to increase police discretion, increase police-citizen encounter, decreased the accountability of officers, as well as increasing organizational exposure towards civil liability. Hence, the alternative strategy of policing tries to make every individual in society accountable for preventing and administrating of justice. In implementing community policing, the policy makers in police departments should put into consideration officers behaviors, so that they do not engage in immoral, unfair and illegal behavior (Palmiotto, 2011).
The implementation of community policing in the neighborhoods has enabled administrators of justice to generalize the anticipated effect. Some of the reasons supporting the implementation of community policing is that it will generally lead to overall crime prevention and reduction. Furthermore, community policing will build and increase truest and confidence between the public and police officers. In the past, the community had lost confidence because police officers were brutally and unfairly arresting the public. Hence, community policing is believed to affect police officers exercise social control and discretion, especially during arrest (Mirsky, 2009).
Indirectly, the use of community policing will involve the community norms and values. This will lead to differential policing because each neighborhood has its values and norms. This will affect the manner that police officers address local ordinances, minor offences, as well as disorders. Due to implementation of community policing, police officers will set reinforcement and priorities using community residents.
Scholars assert that community policing can generally be implemented and defined in three different models; which include community building, broken windows as well as problem oriented policing. The broken window model is described as stressing the enforcement of law on minor disorders and crimes. In the real sense, the model will increase the number of arrests in the neighborhood, but in the long run, the outcome of crime will tremendously reduce (Palmiotto, 2011). On the other hand, the community-building strategy focuses on building rapport, crime prevention, and victim assistance. Finally, problem-oriented policing emphasizes on various tactics in addressing the causes of troubles.
In the era of community policing in Illinois, there are many factors that will affect police decision arrests either indirectly or directly. These factors will affect the behaviors of police in the presence of the community; it includes situational factors, community context, as well as legal factors. In regard to situational factor, it is important that understand that community policing involve officers who have socialized with public and developed some character traits. Hence, they have same expectations, constraints as well as rewards (Engel, Frank, & Novak, 2002). Other situational factors that will influence police behavior and the decision to arrest included characteristics of the victim and suspect, as well as the situation. On the hand, legal factors include the seriousness of offense, presence of the weapon, and available evidences. Under community context, the situation varies due to differences in the neighborhoods. Police officers have the power to influence the encounters and interaction with the public. Furthermore, the degree of social control in the neighborhood will affect their decisions of police officers.
Research conducted in the past shows that there was disparities in ethnic and racial seizure rates. For example, Hispanic and black motorists were highly subjected to the vehicle or personal search by the traffic police. The explanation on this police behavior is mostly attributed to discrimination, bias, and racism. Public policy issues facing police in contemporary society is perceived and actual differential patterns of community policing outcome based on race and ethnicity. In most cases, cross cultural communications and social psychology shows that nonverbal communication can be the main cause of subjecting a certain group of people to personal or vehicle check (Johnson, & Engel, 2000). The nonverbal factors include dressing style, recreational travel behaviors, and vehicle preferences. Furthermore, the minority groups in Illinois are subjected to check because of characteristics that look suspicious to police officers. Introduction of community policing could eliminate the discriminatory and bias arrests and checks. The police will receive a lot of communication on individual identity and suspicious behavior (Kochel & Mastrofski, 2011).
The policy of community policing began in Illinois because of the tension between the public and police because of police strain in the minority people. In fact, in Illinois most African Americans have a negative attitude and perception towards the police. The introduction of community policing reduced confrontational allegation on police on issues of riots, racial conflicts, political protests, crimes, as well as demonstrations by civil rights group (Kochel & Mastrofski, 2011).
Community policing in United States varies, this is because each state and neighborhood runs community oriented policing policies and programs differently. It depends on how the community views and size of the state. As a matter of fact, community policing programs in are more effective among middle income households, homeowners, and whites. Additionally, the philosophy of community policing shows that macro social conditions in a community affected micro-social relations in society (Mirsky, 2009). This means that neighborhood in Illinois with many activities experience small percentage of criminal activities as compared to less active communities.
Community policing might lead to increase of arrests, but it should be statistically analyzed based on the quantity of crime. Since the beginning of 21st century, crimes are tremendously on the rise. It is believed that community policing could be an option in reducing crimes. Some of the perceived benefits include reduced fear, decrease in crime, improve community environment, increase in fairness, as well as decrease in citizen-police conflict. The main goal of community policing models is to crime prevention, peace preservation, communication policing, as well as community building. Police leadership should be active and strive excellently in creating a lasting relationship with the public. The core pillars of this relationship should be confidence, teamwork, and trust. Conversably, the success of community policing will fully depend on corporation between the public and police.
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