Community-oriented policing depends on problem-solving and community partnership. It takes into consideration how the police perceive the problems as well as the expectations, needs, and desires of the city. Community-oriented policing combines different aspects to come up with the appropriate response. Some of these aspects are traditional ways of enforcing the law, problem-solving, prevention measures, community partnership, and community engagement. It encourages agencies or organizations to provide solutions to underlying situations and problems proactively.
Collaboration with the community makes it easy for the police to identify the issues affecting people in society and develop concrete solutions to the matters. It aims to reduce crimes and other related problems in the community by explicitly examining the question and applying a suitable problem-solving mechanism (Gill et al., 2014). It enhances the quality of life and promotes public safety because most of the crimes in the community are reduced. In community-oriented policing, police respond to the problem by analyzing the situation and returning to the question using the best application methods. The police do not focus so much on arresting criminals or responding to emergency calls but on finding solutions. It is facilitated by policing and maintaining a personal contact network in their department and outside the department. Zero-tolerance policing is an approach that is used to enforce laws against violators, especially for minor activities. The strategy helps prevent crimes in the community and punish wrongdoers. The primary objective of the paper is to discuss community-oriented and zero-oriented policing.
Therefore, community-oriented policing refers to an approach that focuses on collaboration and working together with the police and the community members. The development and growth of the plan were due to the realization of the need to use the traditional mechanism of policing that will accommodate the community. The previous police practice and organizational structure had a limitation, and that is why leaders in law enforcement came up with community-oriented policing. The strategies of police using traditional crime control had failed. The nature and quantity of crime kept changing, the diversity of the community was increasing, and people wanted the government to provide better services. Community-oriented policing brings government officials, police professionals, neighbourhood leaders and the community together. The collaboration makes it easy for them to identify, evaluate and analyze problems facing the city (Perez Bromley & Cochran, 2017).
They will be able to solve the problem using the best application methods. The response is based on the police’s perception of the problem and the expectations, desires, and needs of the community. The police agencies can build trust through community partnerships and enhance the provision of services. Community-oriented policing is very crucial when one wants to obtain cooperation from a specific group in the community. The police have little concern for continuous law enforcement. The police department provides additional training to accommodate the strategy of community policing. The plan became more popular in the 1990s, and it has been implemented in many ways worldwide.
There are differences between community-oriented policing and public education programs, neighbourhood watch programs, neighbourhood town meetings, and storefront mingling. Public education programs that are implemented under community policing can provide precise information to the community on how to avoid victimization. The police also can educate youths on how to avoid engaging in criminal activities. An example of a Public education program is Drug Abuse Resistance Education. It creates awareness in children on how to avoid peer pressure influences. It also encourages them to live a productive life which is free from violence and drug abuse.
The strategy is implemented in most schools in the United States. The youth become aware of ways which can be used to resist drugs and live healthy lives. Many are times when young people lose their lives because of drugs, and the program aims at preventing the occurrence of such situations (Sytsma & Piza, 2017). Secondly, Neighborhood Watch Programs entail members of the communities forming small groups according to the area of the resident. The residents share information on problems related to local crime and strategies which can be employed to prevent the problem. The small groups develop a plan on how to detect any criminal activities and report it to the police. The meetings for Neighborhood Watch are organized by the local police department, especially crime prevention officers.
Community organizations actively take part in the meeting, or they can call it off. Neighbourhood Watch involves the establishment of surveillance cameras that can detect any strangers in the compound. There is the development of phone trees that can ring in case a strange activity is going on. Apart from the use of surveillance cameras, individuals guard the homes of their neighbours where they can phone call or report any criminal activities. Members of the local residential areas usually meet to discuss their perceptions and feelings about the problem of domestic crimes. They also come up with appropriate strategies for handling the issue and preventing the crime.
Thirdly, the Neighborhood Town Meeting is very crucial in the development and maintenance of contracts and ties between the public and the police. Neighbourhood Town meetings are conducted in open public spaces such as community centres and schools. The meetings are thoroughly advertised so that the highest attendance is achieved. Individuals are provided with the opportunity to share and exchange information through identification, analysis, and prioritization of the problems facing the community. It gives an opportunity for the police to attain public support for particular initiatives. The police will be able to explain to the members of the community the importance of the provided efforts and the benefits linked to them (Maguire, Uchida & Hassell, 2015).
The initiative brings collaboration because both the police and the community will have a common interest. The nationals will work toward the prevention of criminal activities in their local areas and exchange any ideas regarding the problems. Fourth, Storefront Ministrations aim to bring the police closer to work and serve the communities. It emphasizes police decentralization and the creation of common ways for the people and police to work together. It consists of paid civilians, unpaid volunteers, and police officers. The Ministrations are set in areas that most individuals can access. The police are provided with a chance to create awareness about certain issues and share meaningful information with the public. Some of the data shared by the police are crime control and abstaining from drug abuse (Maguire et al., 2017). The strategy is essential as it determines how the public or the community will rely on the information provided by the police. In areas with high crimes, Ministrations are erected to give a clear indication of the presence of police. Ministrations will reduce crime because the public will be educated on the repercussions of any criminal activities.
Zero-tolerance policing refers to an approach that is used in the enforcement of any criminal violations that come from minor activities. The police pay attention to small criminals such as begging, littering, loitering, public drinking and vagrancy. Sometimes, the police may take action on the spot, including mandatory jail sentences or fines. George Kelling and James Wilson articulated the idea of zero tolerance. The two wrote an article showing how social and minor physical disorders can cause criminal activities in the neighbourhood when left unattended. In 1993, a platform was established that focused on quality of life, crime, and disorder, especially for people who were very notorious. The policy of zero Tolerance Policy was efficiently implemented in 1994 in New York City. The city was experiencing a cocaine epidemic crack, and many people were suffering from violent crime and antisocial behaviours. Bratton, as a police commissioner, led to the implementation that aimed at aggressive law enforcement that created public order. The strategy ensures that offences against the quality of life are handled correctly.
Later, the initiative of quality life changed into zero-tolerance policing because most law enforcement for minor offences was called zero tolerance. The strategy has helped reduce criminal activities as individuals understand the repercussions associated with minor crimes. Areas with high crime rates have been able to use zero-tolerance policing to minimize notorious behaviour among lawbreakers. When the police focus on minor offences, they prevent them from escalating into major criminal activities that can cause a big blow to the community. In 2005, zero tolerance assisted in crime reduction by 26 per cent, and by 2008, violent crime had been reduced by 38 per cent. It shows how the strategy helped minimization of criminal activities. Those people who were drug addicts found themselves in minor offences. Fines and sentences in jail contributed to the reduction of illegal crimes because all people were aware of it. Zero-tolerance policing is cheap and easy to implement because it has immediate effects. The strategy makes the public feel that police are doing something in the elimination of crime. Justice is established, and victims understand the sense of all criminal offensive activities. The strategy led to many people being arrested because of Marijuana possession. Zero-tolerance policing resulted in racism because most of the people who were arrested in New York were Hispanic and black. The strategy seems to favour elites who commit significant crimes and focus more on minor offences.
Implementation of zero tolerance policing was associated with some practices and policies in the U.S. Decentralization of police requires commanders to demonstrate responsibility for any effort made by the police at the district level. The commanders are accountable for beat officer deployment as well as detective officers. The policy requires the police and commanders to handle issues related to drugs and antisocial behaviour due to the continuous use of drugs. Another strategy is based on accurate and intelligent data that was collected promptly.
It requires the police to use computers and other improved gadgets to identify the people as well as the places which are at risk. According to the police, police should not react to incidents without adequate information (Braga, Papachristos & Hureau, 2014). The Department of Police usually holds meetings that emphasize the utilization of intelligence data in certain criminal mapping. In the meeting, the Precinct Commanders give a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of the previous month. The commander also outlines the plans for the future regarding the vision and mission of the organization. Similarly, in the quality of life policy, the police are required to address issues very keenly, especially those related to the lives of the people. The police should be considerate of both minor and major crimes that affect the lives of the people. The action helps in the elimination of activities such as littering and public drinking or smoking.
Misdemeanour arrests were used to target people who were suspected of having been involved in criminal activities which were severe. For example, a person who is suspected of a gang or murder can be arrested for minor cases such as loitering. Then, the investigation is conducted to understand and gather enough information related to the case. It will be easy to identify the suspect after individuals are arrested for minor cases or offences. Additionally, zero-tolerance policing uses trust. The police are given the responsibility to stop the law violators and those with detectives. The police can also access computers and other electronic gadgets that they can utilize in their operational activities. They can patrol certain areas, check for any misconduct and arrest those found violating the law.
Zero-tolerance policing practices and policies have some pros and cons. Some of the significance is criminal act determent. The exercises help in the creation of awareness about the presence of the police because more police officers keep on patrolling. The Nationals understand that there are strict punishments for the law violators. The consequences of committing minor crimes will be because police are distributed on all grounds. The national will fear being arrested or fined, keeping them away from criminal activities. The law is evidence that crimes are not tolerated anymore. Citizens will try to adhere to the rules, policies, regulations and laws provided. Secondly, the practices help in the reduction of small drug traffickers, which minimizes alcohol and substance abuse (Hines & Carter, 2017).
The police keep patrolling, and people who are found selling or using drugs are usually arrested. When dealers of the drugs are cut off from ground level, it becomes easy to target the suppliers of the drugs. It is clear that drugs contribute to most criminal activities because the users will need more money to buy drugs. The money problem can only be solved through engaging in theft or other violent means of securing money. Thirdly, the practices and policies lead to economic growth. Elimination of minor crimes will help in handling major criminal activities. Therefore, the protection of business creates a good reputation for low crimes and attracts investment in the country or region. Most of the investors may fear to establish a company in some areas due to high crime rates. When the crime rates are low, it increases the trust of investors because they believe their money and other assets are safe.
Moreover, the cons of the practices and policies used in the zero-tolerance policies are constant harassment of individuals. The systems and methods allow the police to stop and conduct a search for any activity they suspect might break the law. Minorities and vulnerable groups are always the targets because police cannot arrest all people who are involved in criminal activities. For example, all people who are carrying marijuana cannot be stopped. Only a few will fall into the trap, and this can be based on race and social and economic status (Eterno, 2016). New York witnessed harassment and racism after the implementation of zero-tolerance policing. The rate of corruption was high, and the police officers were accepting bribes. Similarly, a prison sentence increases the probability of the same people re-offending. In prison, some people have established means of committing crimes. When they interact with other people, especially juveniles, they teach them more criminal behaviour. Harassment of juveniles while in prison may create an antagonistic relationship with other people.
Deterrence theory entails the straightforward use of common sense, where individuals have a notion that when they say something that is wrong, they will be punished. Its punishment will prevent the same individual from doing wrong. People will fear being punished in the future and will conduct themselves accordingly. The penalty discourages individuals from engaging in criminal activities because they know that a substantial sentence waits. Punishment or sentencing helps in crime reduction and promotes a safe environment for carrying out routine activities. People do not commit crimes because they fear the sentence, not because of moral sense.
For instance, strain theory shows how stressful activities can increase the probability of individuals committing crimes. It can lead to emotions that are negative, such as anger, frustration, anxiety, and depression. The offence can be one of the responses because the feelings usually create pressure. The crimes are used as a means to seek revenge, eliminate strains, and alleviate negative emotions (Braga, Welsh & Schnell, 2015). For example, a person who experiences chronic unemployment can be a drug trafficker or thief to get money. Additionally, zero-tolerance theory aims at the elimination of minor offenses by applying aggressive policing. Early intervention focuses on stopping misconduct and increasing public safety. However, the relationship between zero-tolerance and deterrence theory is the purpose of reducing criminal activities.
The methods help in the prevention of crime because individuals are aware of the punishment related to criminal offences. If an individual commits a crime, punishment or sentencing can be the best solution. The theories show how people will be discouraged from committing crimes because they fear being punished. People do not worry about committing crimes because of their moral sense but because they do not want to be punished. Strain theory has a relationship with the zero-tolerance approach because strains can lead to committing crimes. When an individual commits a crime, the punishment or sentencing can be a solution. People should avoid pressure so that they may not find themselves in a discipline. Other means of solving the problem should be adopted because indulging in criminal offences can lead to many problems.
In conclusion, community-oriented policing takes the perception of the police regarding an individual problem as well as the needs, expectations, and desires of community members. The strategy enables the police and the community to collaborate and work together. They can identify and evaluate problems affecting people and come up with appropriate solutions. Community-oriented policing includes neighbourhood town meetings, public education programs, storefront ministerial programs, and neighbourhood watch programs. The programs help in enhancing togetherness in the community and preventing crimes within a community. Zero-tolerance policing is used in law enforcement to eliminate minor criminal activities, which can become major issues if left unattended. The policies and practices linked to zero-tolerance policing are police decentralization, quality of life, trust, and data intelligence. The exercises have pros and cons that make them more effective in their operations. Deterrence theory relates to the zero-tolerance method because both use punishment or sentencing as a way to handle misconduct or offences. Strain theory can lead to a crime that will consequently lead to discipline or sentencing.
References
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