The death of Michael Brown at the hands of a white Ferguson police officer has uncovered an apparent legitimacy crisis at the heart of American policing. Some have claimed that de-policing may have led officers to become less proactive. How exactly has the policing of gangs and violence changed in the post-Ferguson era? This book explores this question, drawing on participant observation field notes and in-depth interviews with officers, offenders, practitioners, and community members in a Southern American state. As demands for police reform have once again come into focus following George Floyd’s death, this crucial book informs future policing practice to promote effective crime prevention and gain public trust.

The death of Michael Brown at the hands of a white Ferguson police officer has uncovered an apparent legitimacy crisis at the heart of American policing. Some have claimed that de-policing may have led officers to become less proactive. How exactly has the policing of gangs and violence changed in the post-Ferguson era? This book explores this question, drawing on participant observation field notes and in-depth interviews with officers, offenders, practitioners, and community members in a Southern American state. As demands for police reform have once again come into focus following George Floyd’s death, this crucial book informs future policing practice to promote effective crime prevention and gain public trust.

An array of techniques, procedures and operational guidelines designed to enable police departments to implement effective community relations projects. This handbook is one of a series of prescriptive packages intended to provide criminal justice administrators with both background information and operational guidelines in selected program areas. This report represents an effort to identify various police operational and organizational practices specifically aimed at the improvement of police-community relations. Through site visits, personal interviews and a survey of the available literature, the author became acquainted with various innovative programs aimed at improving police-community relations. The general strategy recommended emphasizes the need for stressing improved community relations in all major police activities. It presents operational guidelines in the areas of policy administration, field operations, training, personnel procedures, and conflict management. The author concludes that the most critical elements in determining success in such a program are a strong administrative commitment and good police-community relations practices throughout all major police functions.

Provides a critical understanding and evaluation of police tactics and the use of force Police violence has historically played an important role in shaping public attitudes toward the government. Community trust and confidence in policing have been undermined by the perception that officers are using force unnecessarily, too frequently, or in problematic ways. The use of force, or harm suffered by a community as a result of such force, can also serve as a flashpoint, a spark that ignites long-simmering community hostility. In Evaluating Police Uses of Force, legal scholar Seth W. Stoughton, former deputy chief of police Jeffrey J. Noble, and distinguished criminologist Geoffrey P. Alpert explore a critical but largely overlooked facet of the difficult and controversial issues of police violence and accountability: how does society evaluate use-of-force incidents? By leading readers through answers to this question from four different perspectives—constitutional law, state law, administrative regulation, and community expectations—and by providing critical information about police tactics and force options that are implicated within those frameworks, Evaluating Police Uses of Force helps situate readers within broader conversations about governmental accountability, the role that police play in modern society, and how officers should go about fulfilling their duties.

This timely and important work takes a critical look at the shifting role of police, who are becoming increasingly responsible for handling terrorism threats on top of their regular responsibilities. With an unprecedented empirical study, the authors of this book examine whether this increased focus on security-related threats may come at the expense of addressing “classic” police responsibilities, such as fighting crime and dealing with local, day-to-day community problems. They also examine whether this shift has had a detrimental effect on police-community relationships and perceptions of police legitimacy, as their role changes from “service” to “suspicion.” Through a four-year, multi-method study specifically focused on the Israel National Police, the authors of this work have examined the effects of this shifting role on a number of key areas of policing concern, namely: police effectiveness at fighting crime and police legitimacy, drawing conclusions applicable to any democratic police force. The results of the study provide a number of concrete recommendations for maintaining effectiveness and community relationships of the police, with increasing responsibilities, challenges, and limited resources. This work will be of interest for researchers in criminology and criminal justice, particularly with a focus on police studies and counter-terrorism; police administrators; and researchers in related disciplines, such as sociology and public administration.

Firefighters are taught to battle flames. Police learn to respond quickly to 911 calls. So why are so few health officials prepared for public health crises? Updated to consider the COVID-19 pandemic, The Public Health Crisis Survival Guide is here to help. Whether it's an infectious disease outbreak, a scathing news report, or a sudden budget calamity, this book gives public health readers an honest and practical overview of what to do when things go wrong -- not just to survive, but to lead and thrive in the most difficult circumstances. With examples drawn from history, recent headlines, and the author's own experience at the local, state, and federal levels, this book covers: · how to recognize, manage, and communicate in a crisis · how to pivot from managing a crisis to advocating for long-term policy change that can prevent the crisis from happening again · how to awaken a sense of crisis on a longstanding problem to generate momentum for change · taboo topics, including whether and how to apologize for mistakes Written by a voice of experience, practicality, good humor, and an eye toward the recent COVID-19 pandemic, The Public Health Crisis Survival Guide will be a source of enrichment and reassurance for the next generation of public health students and practitioners.

Written by an author team with experience in law enforcement and in the classroom, Community Policing Today explores the strategies police and communities can use to find long-term solutions to the public safety issues facing today’s communities, including gangs, high crime, and disproportionate minority contact. Framing community policing not as a program, but as a transformation from traditional policing that involves sweeping changes in the way police view their role and relationships with the community, the authors demonstrate how law enforcement officers can partner with the community to help facilitate problem-solving of public safety issues. With an emphasis on cutting-edge trends and impacts on community policing, this book offers students a better understanding of the complexity and promise of community policing today. Included with this title: The password-protected Instructor Resource Site (formally known as SAGE Edge) offers access to all text-specific resources, including a test bank and editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides.