The Impact of Sir Robert Peel on American Policing (Essay Sample)

Police History Paper
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The impact of Sir Robert Peel on American policing
The English political leader Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850) served as prime minister during 1834-1835 and 1841-1846. He played an important role in modernizing the British government social and economic and sponsored the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1846. Sir Roberts Peel was in the great tradition of the 19th-century administrative reformers. However, not a doctrinaire, he drew on the most advanced thinking of his day in his reform of British criminal law, the prisons, the police, and fiscal and economic policies. By making government a positive instrument in social reform and by his pragmatic approach to social and political problems, Peel also made an important contribution to shaping the philosophy of the modern conservative party (Evans, 2006).
Despite the fact that his repeal of the Corn Laws broke his party, Peelite traditions lingered on. Peelites such as William Gladstone also carried these traditions into the Liberal party. Sir Roberts and his efforts have lasted through out times, trials, and many difficulties in Sir Roberts Peel’s last year’s he devoted his last years to developing a force that would provide safety and service to all citizens and communities throughout the world. Sir Robert Peels’ beliefs were as he stated; “the police are people and the people are the police,” He also believed that in order for crime prevention to work and be successful. The key to that success was to keep crime from being intrusive to its communities and its people (Gash, 2011).
Analyze the relationship between the U.S. government and the policing organizations throughout the United States.
There are two levels of police in the United States: Federal and State. The Federal Level includes organizations like the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Immigration, and customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration etc. These organizations get their authority from Article 1 section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which ensures Congress’ power to regulate taxes and interstate commerce. The FBI for example pursues criminals who have or are likely to cross state and country boundaries. The DEA enforces laws on substances that have a tax ban on them. The State Level has three sub-levels of Police: State Trooper, County Sheriff, and Local/City Police. State Troopers, also known as State Police and Highway Patrol, have jurisdiction (policing authority) across the entire state but mainly Patrol areas and projects that are maintained and operated by other State Level agencies, such as the Highways and State Government Buildings. County Sheriffs maintain and operated the County jails and patrol the unincorporated areas (areas not within city limits) within a county and provide policing services to cities that contract the Sheriff’s department in California provide search and rescue services. City/Local Police serve cities and patrol within city limits.
Every State policing organization follows the State’s Penal Code. County Sheriffs also enforce county mandates. Local police follow both county mandates and city ordinances. Every state is self-governing over their own land so each is different in regards to their penal codes. There are also Federal, State, Local, and Private. Federal Law Enforcement has a geographical jurisdiction that includes the entire nation. Complex, many layered, and multidimensional, Federal agencies focus on large issues such as immigration, drug and human trafficking, gun smuggling, telecommunications, safety of transportation systems—issues that cross state lines and concern the nation as a whole. Federal resources are committed to criminal investigation, and cross-state crimes, rather than keeping the peace or responding to local situations. They leave localized crimes (for example, Prostitution, traffic violations, petty theft, or shoplifting) to the state and local authorities. State: Each state enforcement system evolved independently, as the region or territory became organized into a state. As a result, each state has its own unique organizational structure, determined by geography, population, history, resources, and crime issues. All states have highway patrols or state police with certain statewide oversight responsibilities, including the coordination of some law enforcement functions. Depending on the need, a state may have gaming commissions, wild life protection departments, or investigative division that focus on political corruption. State enforcement agencies aid local and federal agencies in crime fighting, emergency response, and investigation activities.
Local: Most countries, cities, towns, or municipalities operated their own law enforcement department or agency. Local law enforcement officers patrol local areas within jurisdiction to maintain order and investigate crimes. Local officers are typically the first responders to incidents in their area. In addition to emergency responsibilities, Local officers also provide services such as traffic control, road safety, animal control, serving legal papers, and maintaining court safety. Specialized Local law enforcement groups (such as campus police or transit police) have limited authority based on their specific roles, functions, and geographic limits. Private: P...