Term Paper on "Zero Tolerance Policing vs. Problem-Oriented"

Term Paper 4 pages (1373 words) Sources: 4 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Criminal Justice

Zero-Tolerance Policing

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the topic of criminal justice and policing. Specifically it will discuss zero-tolerance policing as compared with problem-oriented policing (POP) programs. Zero-tolerance policing began in New York City in the early 1990s, and seems to have helped reduce crime significantly in the city. Because of this, the approach has spread to other cities and towns across the nation. Zero-tolerance policing involves police polices that hold all crimes at the same level of importance, no matter how petty or severity of the crime. In other words, a petty offense is the same as the worst criminal offense and will be treated as such in the police system. Ultimately, paying attention to all crimes, regardless of severity, indicates policing is serious, and reduces the amount of all crime committed in an area. This is what happened in New York City. Problem-oriented policing, on the other hand, involves identifying problem areas, such as drug-ridden neighborhoods or drug trafficking in general, and hones in one these areas to eliminate the problem.

Zero-tolerance policing comes as a reaction to policing methods changing over time. Three authors who argue for and against zero-tolerance policing write, "For a variety of reasons police got out of the business of minor offenses. These reasons went beyond the utilitarian view that scare police resources should best be concentrated on 'serious' crimes" (Greene, Kelling, & Bratton, 1998, pg. 309). Zero-tolerance policing believes that concentrating on all crimes shows the police are serious about fighting crime, and as a result, crime drops. Zero-tolerance is based on four concepts: "(1) accurate and timely intelligence, (2) rapid deployment of personnel and resources," (3) effective tactics, and (4) relentless follow-up and assessment" (Greene, Kelling, & Bratton, 1998, pg. 319). By targeting all crime, even petty offenses, crime is reduced, but even more importantly; fear of crime is reduced as well, which adds to citizen comfort and security throughout the area. Zero-tolerance is similar to POP concepts in that its final outcome aims to reduce crime and increase community security. It differs from POP in that it targets all crime, regardless of severity, and it relies on more research, follow-up, and assessment.

In New York City, many people believe that zero-tolerance helped reduce the crime rate by over 30%, and led to far greater safety in the city. However, one of the most disturbing outcomes of zero-tolerance in New York City is the marked rise in citizen complaints against the police department. Civil rights claims against police rose 75% during the implementation and expansion of zero-tolerance (Greene, Kelling, & Bratton, 1998, pg. 321). While proponents of the zero-tolerance policy note that most of these claims are never substantiated, it seems the policy has created more animosity between police and citizens in many areas. In addition, proponents point to zero-tolerance as the reason NYC's crime rates dropped so dramatically in the mid- to late-1990s, but other observers note that crime rates were dropping all over the country during this time, not just in New York (Greene, Kelling, & Bratton, 1998, pg. 322).

Community-oriented policing (COP) revolves around the central idea that "police and citizens share responsibility for identifying and solving crime problems and that law enforcement is one important tool for addressing crime, but it is not an end in itself" (Greene, Kelling, & Bratton, 1998, pg. 326). Most people define it as problem-solving and community engagement types of policing. This type of policing helps bring the community and the police department closer together, and supports many community involvement programs, such as neighborhood watch committees, working with neighborhoods and businesses to eliminate problem housing and trafficking locations, and even working with zoning laws to enforce and crack down on drug houses and other criminal properties. In addition, this type of policing involves many citizen volunteers who work in a variety of policing areas, which is not found in zero-tolerance policing. This type of policing was introduced in San Diego, California, and after implementation, the area showed a marked decrease in crime, nearly as much as New York enjoyed during the… READ MORE

How to Reference "Zero Tolerance Policing vs. Problem-Oriented" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Bad Cops Term Paper

Police Misconduct

The objective of this work is to propose a research study on the topic of police misconduct.

Police misconduct is often socio-culturally-based either within or from outside of… read more

Term Paper 7 pages (1947 words) Sources: 6 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Assessment for Training of the Metropolitan Police Department Term Paper

Training of the Metropolitan Police Department

Context of the Problem

Brief History of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area Police/

Community Relations since World War II

Major Problems Preventing Positive… read more

Term Paper 47 pages (12930 words) Sources: 30 Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Use of Force in Law Enforcement Thesis

Force in Law Enforcement

The controversy swirling about Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a respected Cambridge professor who happens to be an African-American, and Sgt. James M. Crowley, a police… read more

Thesis 30 pages (9298 words) Sources: 10 Style: APA Topic: Crime / Police / Criminal Justice

---

Advocacy Project Term Paper

Drinking and Driving Consequences

Are we taking the drunken drivers off the road only to turn them into drunken pedestrians?

Lawrence S. Harris, North Carolina State Medical Examiner (Simpson, 1988)… read more

Term Paper 29 pages (8016 words) Sources: 16 Style: APA Topic: Drugs / Alcohol / Tobacco

---

Social Welfare State and Juvenile Research Proposal

Yet as a nation, we tolerate the highest child poverty rate of any nation in the developed world" (p. 28).

Likewise, these topsy-turvy priorities extend to how educators are paid… read more

Research Proposal 16 pages (4940 words) Sources: 16 Style: APA Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>