Chapter 5

Police in Society: History and Organization

History of Police

 Prior to Eighteenth Century  No regular English police force prior to the Norman Conquest  The Pledge System  Families banded together for protection  People raised the “hue and cry” to warn others of trouble and to pursue criminals.

 Tithings were formed (10 families).

 Ten tithings banded together to form a hundred supervised by a constable.

 Hundreds banded together to form shires supervised by the shire reeve.

History of Police (cont.)

 The Watch System: 13th Century  More formal than the pledge system.

 Employed watchmen to protect property against fire and robbery.

 Justice of the peace established and given judicial duties.

 Constables served as assistants to justices of the peace.

History of Police (cont.)

 Private monied police profited because of lack of formal police (thief takers).

 Henry Fielding and the Bow Street Runners  1829 – Sir Robert Peel, London Metropolitan Police Act (MPA) creates the first organized police force of over 1,000 men.

History of Police (cont.)

 Law Enforcement in Colonial America  County Sheriff was the most important law enforcement person.

 Sheriff collected taxes, supervised elections, and other matters of business.

 Reacted to citizens’ complaints and investigated crimes  Paid on a fee system linked to effectiveness

History of Police (cont.)

 Early Police Agencies  Boston created first U.S. police dept. in 1838  Early agencies were corrupt  Patrolled on foot  Major responsibility was maintaining order  Power was almost unchecked  Uniforms introduced in New York in 1853  Telegraph police boxes installed in 1867  Detroit began using bicycles in 1897

History of Police (cont.)

 Twentieth Century Reform  Advent of police administrative boards to reduce local officials’ control over police  Boston police strike of 1919 increased interest in police reform  With onset of the Depression, justice reform became less important

History of Police (cont.)

 The Emergence of Professionalism  1893, International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) was formed  IACP called for civil service police force  August Vollmer, most famous police reformer of the time  Instituted university training for young officers  Helped develop School of Criminology at the University of California at Berkeley

The Modern Era of Policing: 1960-2003

 Policing in the 1960s  Turmoil and crisis characterized this era  Supreme Court decisions during this time impacted police  Rapidly growing crime rate  Policing in the 1970s  Structural changes in police departments  Increased federal support, LEAA  Computers  Women and minorities recruited

The Modern Era of Policing: 1960-2003 (cont.)

 Policing in the 1980s  Emergence of community policing  Unions fought for increase in salaries  State and local budgets cut during Reagan Administration  Policing in the 1990s  Rodney King case  Increase in diversity of police forces

Policing and Law Enforcement Today

 Federal Law Enforcement Agencies  Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  Approximately 30,000 employees  Jurisdiction over federal laws including all statutes not specifically assigned to other agencies  Mission evolves and changes based on world conditions  Current focus on terrorism