Police in America

1. Police in America Chapter Two The History of American Police

2. The English Heritage • English Common Law • High value placed on individual rights • Court system • Various forms of punishment • Different law enforcement agencies

3. Law Enforcement in Colonial America • Sheriff • Appointed by colonial governor • Chief local government official • Law enforcement • Collect taxes • Conduct elections • Maintain bridges and roads • Constable • Some responsibility for enforcing law and maintaining order • Originally elected, later appointed

4. American Policing in the 19th Century • Personnel Standards • None • Selection based on political connections • Patrol • Foot patrol • No communications system • In time, call boxes emerged • Weak supervision • Citizen violence caused the carrying of firearms • Major social welfare institution • Corrupt

5. American Policing in the 20th Century • Professionalism • Define policing as a profession • Eliminate influence of politics • Hire qualified chief executives • Raise personnel standards • Modern management principles • Specialized units • Police subculture created • Unions

6. American Policing in the 20th Century • Communications technology • Patrol car • Two way radio • Telephone • New agencies • FBI created • Crisis of the 1960’s • Supreme Court • Civil Rights Movement • Research

7. New Developments • Changing police officer • Race and gender • Control of police discretion • Policies and SOP • Lawsuits • Unions • Significant improvement in salaries and benefits • Civilian oversight • Community policing and problem-oriented policing • Race and ethnic conflicts

8. Law Enforcement in Colonial America • Watch • Watchmen patrolled to guard against • Fire • Crime • Disorder • Originally, only night watch • All males were expected to serve • Slave Patrol • Distinctly American • Guard against slave revolts and capture runaway slaves