With an engaging and balanced approach, former police officer and policing scholar Willard M. Oliver encourages students to think critically about the role of the police and the practice of policing in American society today. Policing America builds a basic understanding of contemporary police practices upon a foundation of essential theory and research. In a readable style, the author offers a contextual understanding of concepts in policing, supported by academic research, and balanced with the voice of the American police officer. New to the Third Edition: Updated with new statistics and research Carefully streamlined and edited to ensure teachability and accuracy Current policing journal articles findings included and cited Discussion of the modern political movement of “defunding the police” and how this impacts both the police and the community Coverage of the use of video doorbell technology and its effect on policing Professors and students will benefit from: Succinct yet thorough treatment of all policing topics, with a balanced approach that emphasizes contemporary policing Discussion of best policing practices and research Real-world issues highlighted in text boxes Hypotheticals that exemplify theory in practice in every chapter A design for learning that includes charts, graphics, and summaries of key points A focus on encouraging students to think critically about the role of policing in today’s society

Policing America’s Educational Systems, edited by John Harrison Watts, describes methods of policing modern educational settings, covering both K-12 public school and public or private colleges and universities. Using topical examples, subject-matter experts introduce the history of policing in elementary and high schools, the legal context governing educational institutions, and ways to assess risk and prevent or respond to crime, including active-shooter incidents. The opening section covers primary and secondary education, while the second focuses on postsecondary educational settings. A final section offers a theoretical approach to understanding campus crime and discusses the role of counseling and mental health in keeping students safe. A concluding chapter looks at the future of policing in education. Contributors bring both academic and practitioner experience to each topic covered, and useful features include learning objectives, chapter summaries, key terms, and discussion questions that further explore the issues and controversies covered in that section. This textbook is designed for courses in school or campus policing within criminal justice, social work, and sociology programs, and is also appropriate for in-service training for professionals involved in school or campus policing and safety.

Authors Franklin and Hein have witnessed firsthand difficulties experienced in some black communities. They use their knowledge to analyze and discuss the interactions between American policing, a subculture of the black community and the BLM movement. The authors wrote this book not because of attacks on police officers but because of overzealous actions by officers to shoot black men. It describes how blue on black shootings along with police tactics sometimes cause intense citizen responses through public statements, outbursts, and demonstrations. It begins with an examination of the differences between the black and white communities; how the same incident can be viewed from two different perspectives and how a discussion can be perceived unbiased by one but biased and unjust by another. Because of civil rights efforts American policing is going through a transformation. A change in policing tactics must be met with a re-evaluation of some cultural norms by the black community. They also discuss the lack of support by blacks shown to other blacks when there is an impression of being “not black enough.” The authors believe in political correctness, but also believe that political correctness is harming the black community, because well-recognized negative issues in some communities are not being addressed to avoid criticism of black culture. In the final chapter the authors discuss the failure of black leadership to make any earnest effort to rescue a wanting black subculture from itself. Finally, the authors believe that American policing understands its 21st century obligations and is taking steps to meet them.

This is an anthology whose general viewpoint is that police act largely as a state arm for counterinsurgency, encouraged by a growing police-industrial complex. The readings in the book develop the thesis that during the last 100 years police have become an enforcement arm for economic and political interest associated with the capitalistic system both in America and third world countries where the U.S. has investments. The development of electronic criminal information systems and surveillance apparatus under law enforcement assistance administration grants is considered a dangerous trend toward a police-industrial complex. It is suggested that police forces should become increasingly decentralized under community and neighborhood control.

Provides an overview of police work and an assessment of policing, and recommends future directions of law enforcement operations and policies. Discusses police in American society, historical perspectives, police operations and discretion, culture and behavior, ethics and deviance, civil liability, policing the drug problem, and the future of policing. Tables and special information are boxed and highlighted, and each chapter ends with a list of references for further reading. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Police in America provides a comprehensive introduction to the foundations of policing in the United States today. Descriptive and analytical, the text is designed to offer undergraduate students a balanced and up-to-date overview of who the police are and what they do, the problems they face, and the many reforms and innovations that have taken place in policing. Using timely articles and excerpts, the authors take readers beyond the headlines and statistics to present a comprehensive and contemporary overview of what it means to be a police officer.

Contains ninety-five primary documents, grouped into seven different time periods, that chronicle the history and development of police policy and the role of police in American society.

List of members in vols. 1-24, 38-54, 57.