Book Description

This re-examination of the police community relations concept looks at functions of existing programs and suggests ways in which police agencies may use such programs to enhance activities of the entire department. A basic premise of this book is two-fold: that the police must accept responsibility for providing a wide variety of non-enforcement functions; and that increasing accountability to the community will be a major public concern in the future. The positive role that a comprehensive police community relations program can play in any department is emphasized and measures to implement and evaluate programs are stressed. Included are numerous case studies which illustrate what happens when line officers practice the techniques of behavioral science. Also discussed are two original, never before published studies - one covering community attitudes and the other the police relationship to social service agencies.