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Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy

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Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
Kristen Torres
AJS/502
May 6, 2013
Joseph Richard Gutheinz, Jr. J.D.

Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy
“Community policing is, in essence, a collaboration between the police and the community that identifies and solves community problems” (U.S. Department of Justice, 1994, p. vii). Throughout the years, community policing has become a more popular strategy to help law enforcement officials control and deter crime; however, some areas across the United States has had problems in the past with communities and law enforcement working together to ensure a secure and safe environment. Although it is an officer’s duty to maintain order, keep the peace, and solve problems within the area he or she is patrolling, it is also necessary for the people of the community to come together to help prevent crime. Everyone wants to feel safe in his or her place of dwelling and know that he or she has individuals who will serve and protect the area. Ergo, when problems occur between law enforcement and communities, the citizens develop a stigma against law officials and do not want to help solve or prevent criminal acts. On the other side, when law enforcement officials develop a positive rapport with the community, the citizens are more likely to come forward to help solve crimes or problems that evolve within the neighborhood. Community policing is a necessary program to have within a community and many neighborhoods have adopted these programs.
The Chicago Police Department is one city that knew a community-based program was a necessity to solve criminal problems within the neighborhoods of the city. In 1993, the Chicago Police Department implemented the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS), which is a community-based program that helps solves neighborhood crime problems with the collaboration of community members and law enforcement officials. According to Office of Justice Programs (n.d.), “The program began in five



References: Chicago Police Department. (2008). Working Together. Building Safer Communities. Retrieved May 6, 2013, from https://portal.chicagopolice.org/portal/page/portal/ClearPath/Get%20Involved/How%20CAPS%20works/What%20is%20CAPSS Office of Justice Programs. (n.d.). Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). Retrieved May 6, 2013, from https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=299 University of Ottawa. (n.d.). Faculty of Social Sciences. Institute for the Prevention of Crime. Retrieved. May 6, 2013, from http://www.sciencessociales.uottawa.ca/ipc/eng/problem_high_crime_communities.asp?topic=chicago U.S. Department of Justice. (1994). Understanding Community Policing. Retrieved May 6, 2013, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/commp.pdf .

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