Police Oriented Problem

Herman Goldstein’s concept for problem-orienting policing (POP) is police officers should break up their work load; look at crimes on an individual bases and come up with plans to deal with these subgroups for offenses (Walker & Katz, 2011). In the past if someone was arrested on an alcohol related charge the person was arrested, charged and would serve his/her sentence. Now the reason for the offence is researched and properly categorized. The charge could have been the result of a domestic disturbance or juvenile consumption. Future use would be looking at what causes the problem and help to eliminate those factors. For example if an areas is known for gang activity, the police can take appropriate actions to raise their physical presence. The police could work with neighborhood businesses to improve sight conditions of the area. Have the neighbors start up a neighborhood watch program so others in the community could make calls to over suspicious activities and persons. The police and the communities work together for the betterment of the communities. Because of Goldstein’s research it led in part to programs such as the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) being instituted.
CAPS was instituted in Chicago based on the idea of the police being involved in all levels of communications with their communities. The police should be more than just police officers. They should be ambassadors to some degree. Police officers are permanently assigned to certain neighborhoods (Walker & Katz, 2011). This was done because people feel more at ease and comfortable with an officer they know on a personal basis. If a person is comfortable with an officer they are more likely to talk to them and offer up needed information. The people of the neighborhood are more willing to cooperate with the police.

 
Police officers are required to meet with individuals within the neighborhood on a regular basis to discuss concerns and hear from community representatives and... [continues]

Read full essay