"Community Policing in the United States." In Jean-Paul Brodeur (ed.), Comparisons in
Policing: An International Perspective. Aldershot: Avebury, 1995, 86-112.
A major debate is now taking place in the United States over the role of police in society. Topics such as the
relationship between police and the public, the role of the police in crime prevention, policing in difficult
neighborhoods, police management, and controls on police action are widely discussed. Surprisingly, there
is more innovation and change taking place in American policing than in almost any other function of
government, especially at the municipal level. It is an exciting time, for much of this change is taking place
without a clear sense of what direction it will take or how successful it will be. Although it is taking many
different forms, this great wave of innovation is often called ‘community policing'. Interest in community
policing is not unique to the United States, and similar projects are taking place in Great Britain, Germany,
Belgium, Holland, Canada, Australia, and other countries. However, I shall focus on recent innovations in
policing in the United States. In this essay I discuss the definition of community policing and some of the
rationales for it. I also discuss why community policing has appeared, and review a great deal of evidence
about its effectiveness. I conclude with critical comments on the future of community policing, and some
recommendations.
Policing: An International Perspective. Aldershot: Avebury, 1995, 86-112.
A major debate is now taking place in the United States over the role of police in society. Topics such as the
relationship between police and the public, the role of the police in crime prevention, policing in difficult
neighborhoods, police management, and controls on police action are widely discussed. Surprisingly, there
is more innovation and change taking place in American policing than in almost any other function of
government, especially at the municipal level. It is an exciting time, for much of this change is taking place
without a clear sense of what direction it will take or how successful it will be. Although it is taking many
different forms, this great wave of innovation is often called ‘community policing'. Interest in community
policing is not unique to the United States, and similar projects are taking place in Great Britain, Germany,
Belgium, Holland, Canada, Australia, and other countries. However, I shall focus on recent innovations in
policing in the United States. In this essay I discuss the definition of community policing and some of the
rationales for it. I also discuss why community policing has appeared, and review a great deal of evidence
about its effectiveness. I conclude with critical comments on the future of community policing, and some
recommendations.
“Introduction,” in Wesley G. Skogan (ed.), Community Policing: Can It Work?
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2003.
The essays presented here examine this debate over the role of the police in the community. This introductory
chapter sets the emergence of community policing in historical and conceptual context. First we review some
of the precursors to community policing, in order to highlight what each contributed to the evolution of this new
model of policing. Then we describe the end product, or at least its current configuration. We present an
extended definition of community policing, and some cursory evidence of its popularity. Next, we show how the
chapters address the "Can it work?" question that is part of the title of this book. The first set of chapters
examine trends in the adoption of community policing, to see if anything fundamental is indeed changing.
Another addresses the role of the public in securing neighborhood safety, and several chapters address the
reaction of police officers – which is often negative – to their involvement in community policing. The final
section looks at the effectiveness of community policing in addressing neighborhood problems.
Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2003.
The essays presented here examine this debate over the role of the police in the community. This introductory
chapter sets the emergence of community policing in historical and conceptual context. First we review some
of the precursors to community policing, in order to highlight what each contributed to the evolution of this new
model of policing. Then we describe the end product, or at least its current configuration. We present an
extended definition of community policing, and some cursory evidence of its popularity. Next, we show how the
chapters address the "Can it work?" question that is part of the title of this book. The first set of chapters
examine trends in the adoption of community policing, to see if anything fundamental is indeed changing.
Another addresses the role of the public in securing neighborhood safety, and several chapters address the
reaction of police officers – which is often negative – to their involvement in community policing. The final
section looks at the effectiveness of community policing in addressing neighborhood problems.
Community Policing
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