Police Administration: Then and Now (Research Paper Sample)

Police Administration: Then and now
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Police Administration: Then and now
Like all societal, technological or administrative aspects, the police force has also undergone numerous changes, and there are considerable differences between the police force now and four decades ago. Despite the existence of these differences, the core of the force retains many similarities to its older self, as it seeks to maintain its core mandate of ensuring all citizens are secure. Today, the chances of a new recruit being a non-white male is high compared to four decades ago, where the police force was mainly composed of members of a the male gender and were of white race. Presently, measures are being taken to encourage diversity of the force, with the aim of achieving a police force whose composition reflects the society’s composition (USSCR, 2014). As such, females are being increasingly incorporated into the force, while other races such as Asians, blacks and Latinos are also garnering increased representation in the force.
Another difference between a new recruit today and one between one and four decades ago is their level of education. Presently, some major police departments in the country have increased their minimal educational requirements, with some requiring a two year degree, and others a four year degree as a precondition for selection (Bostrom, 2011). This has resulted in a police force that is more professional, and more culturally competent, such that the force is able to deliver services efficiently and without bias based on socioeconomic factors. Better-educated recruits are also able to take to training better, and this, coupled with good interactions with their constituents, enables the creation and maintenance of good police – community relations. New recruits today also have more incentives to join the force as compared to some few decades ago. There are numerous career opportunities available to an individual as compared to a few decades ago, and this has made some police departments desperate for new recruits. As such, there are now more financial incentives involved, while previous drug use can also be overlooked, whereas people who joined decades ago had to do so based on competitive basis and on spotless criminal records (Woska, 2011).
A new police officer today is also relatively safer and more equipped to do the job as compared to an officer who joined the force a number of decades ago. Today, numerous technologies and networks exist that make it easier for a law enforcement officer to identify or trail a criminal. Four decades ago, most records were manual, making it easier for criminals to slip the attention of officers. Presently, most records are digitized, and technologies such as facial recognition have made it easier for officers to deal with crime. The use of violence by police officers has also been on the decline (Moore & Kelling, 2011), as more and more citizens become empowered on their rights and are able to seek legal redress against officers who assault them.
Despite these differences, certain aspects remain similar between new recruits now and up to four decades ago....