Chapter 5 Police in Society: History and Organization.

Chapter 5Police in Society: History and Organization

History of Police

Prior to Eighteenth Century

No regular English police force prior to the Norman Conquest

The Pledge System

Families banded together for protection

People raised the “hue and cry” to warn others of trouble and

to pursue criminals.

Tithings were formed (10 families).

Ten tithings banded together to form a hundred supervised by

a constable.

Hundreds banded together to form shires supervised by the

shire reeve.

History of Police (cont.)

The Watch System: 13th Century

More formal than the pledge system.

Employed watchmen to protect property against fire and robbery.

Justice of the peace established and given judicial duties.

Constables served as assistants to justices of the peace.

History of Police (cont.)

Private monied police profited because of lack of formal police (thief

takers).

Henry Fielding and the Bow Street Runners

1829 – Sir Robert Peel, London Metropolitan Police Act (MPA)

creates the first organized police force of over 1,000 men.

History of Police (cont.)

Law Enforcement in Colonial America

County Sheriff was the most important law enforcement person.

Sheriff collected taxes, supervised elections, and other matters of

business.

Reacted to citizens’ complaints and investigated crimes

Paid on a fee system linked to effectiveness

History of Police (cont.)

Early Police Agencies

Boston created first U.S. police dept. in 1838

Early agencies were corrupt

Patrolled on foot

Major responsibility was maintaining order

Power was almost unchecked

Uniforms introduced in New York in 1853

Telegraph police boxes installed in 1867

Detroit began using bicycles in 1897

History of Police (cont.)

Twentieth Century Reform

Advent of police administrative boards to reduce local officials’

control over police

Boston police strike of 1919 increased interest in police reform

With onset of the Depression, justice reform became less

important

History of Police (cont.)

The Emergence of Professionalism

1893, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) was

formed

IACP called for civil service police force

August Vollmer, most famous police reformer of the time

Instituted university training for young officers

Helped develop School of Criminology at the University of

California at Berkeley

The Modern Era of Policing: 1960-2003

Policing in the 1960s

Turmoil and crisis characterized this era

Supreme Court decisions during this time impacted police

Rapidly growing crime rate

Policing in the 1970s

Structural changes in police departments

Increased federal support, LEAA

Computers

Women and minorities recruited

The Modern Era of Policing: 1960-2003 (cont.)

Policing in the 1980s

Emergence of community policing

Unions fought for increase in salaries

State and local budgets cut during Reagan Administration

Policing in the 1990s

Rodney King case

Increase in diversity of police forces

Policing and Law Enforcement Today

Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Approximately 30,000 employees

Jurisdiction over federal laws including all statutes not specifically

assigned to other agencies

Mission evolves and changes based on world conditions

Current focus on terrorism

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

Harrison Act of 1914 – established federal jurisdiction over supply

and use of drugs

Assist local agencies and foreign governments.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives

Originally named the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms it

was transferred from the Treasury Department to the Justice

Department in 2003.

Agency’s strategic plan being revised to reflect new name and

mission.

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

U.S. Marshals

Nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency.

Wide range of responsibilities:

Judicial security

Fugitive investigations

Witness security

Prisoner services

Justice prisoner and alien transportation

Asset forfeiture program

Internal Revenue Service

Customs Service

Secret Service

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

Internal Revenue Service

Enforces tax laws

Responsible for the prosecution of Al Capone

Secret Service

Originally created to combat counterfeiting.

Provides protection to president, vice president and their family

members, presidential candidates, and former presidents.

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

State Law Enforcement Agencies

Created to deal with crime in nonurban areas.

1835 – Texas Rangers were created as one of first state police

agencies.

Jurisdiction ranges from primary responsibility to enforce traffic

laws to general police powers.

Provide a wide range of support to other agencies.

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

County Law Enforcement Agencies

County sheriff’s role evolved from early English shire reeve

Nearly 3,100 sheriffs’ offices

Provide routine patrol, responding to citizen calls and

investigating crimes

Duties vary according to size & degree of development in the

county

Policing and Law Enforcement Today (cont.)

Metropolitan Law Enforcement Agencies

Range in size from agencies with 40,000 officers to departments

with only 1 officer.

Most provide a wide variety of services and functions.

Technology and Law Enforcement

Information Technology

National Crime Information Center, 1967

Data mining

Imaging systems

Crime mapping

Technology and Law Enforcement (cont.)

Criminal Identification

Computerized photo lineup

Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS)

DNA Testing

Identification of suspects based on genetic material found in

hair, blood, other bodily fluids

RFLP

PCR

Ethical and practical questions

Technology and Law Enforcement (cont.)

Communications technology is now commonplace in policing.

Mobile computer systems

Portable computers

Pen computing

Head-up display terminals

Technology and Law Enforcement (cont.)

Future technology

Genetic algorithms

Augmented reality

Automated Biometric Identification System