HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF JUVENILE COURTS
Difficulties in transitioning from traditional policing to community policing
In the recent past the model of policing was the traditional model but it has changed to community policing. Although, community policing is the now model, the transition has been facing challenges as discussed below.
Partly, successful implementation of community policing determines the concept’s ultimate achievement. Therefore, implementation of community policing has been facing challenges. The challenges could be internal or external. The difficulties faced could be external or internal within the community or agencies of the community that are of help in community policing. The successful implementation of the concept highly depends on the willingness and ability of rank, police managers, and file officers to create a climate of organization that allows self-critique, continual learning, and essentially, change (mostly resisted). Various internal factors can impede embracing of community policing. Internal factor that have led to opposition are power struggles, informal communications, change, and issues of trust. These factors can also facilitate adoption of the concept or act as a barrier.
Community policing is not embraced by the police due to the fact that it is demanding. It demands more of the police time in carrying out patrols and spending more time with the community to develop relations that help in problem identification and solving. Resistance to change is a factor that opposes full implementation of community policing. Police are rigid to adapt to the new policing concept simply because of the extensive familiarization with the traditional model of policing. Fear of the unknown that is mostly, failure to achieve the set goal and target. Moreover, the managers also do not want to formulate new policies, goals, mission statements, and vision too.
The personnel involved in policing are a major barrier in different ways. For example, the file officers and the rank have the feeling that being involved in community policing equates them to a social worker. On the other hand juniors (file officers and rank), feel that their seniors (police managers) are trying to push a philosophy upon them in their own personal advancement. Thus, redefinition of the police culture is crucial if the community policing concept is to succeed. In addition the success of community policing needs a culture that appreciates values and accepts the essence of participation of the community in identifying problems in the neighborhood and activities of solving problems. On the contrary, traditional policing was under the professional model with a traditional police culture whereby, little assistance is expected from citizens but rather they report crimes as witnesses and victims.
Barrier towards the successful implementation of community policing from traditional policing fully can also be due to factors outside the police organizational structure and organization. The determining factor on community policing concept success is a partnership between the police and the community. Partnership is key as it assists in problem identification and strategy development of problems. Community mobilization in disadvantaged areas has presented to be a difficult case due to poor relations of police and society. Consequently, the resultant effect is ambivalence that is deep-rooted towards the police (Queens Printer for Ontario, 2010). This can possibly be overcome by formation of close ties with religious leaders, community, and police. Transition from traditional policing to community policing has been facing opposition because the responsibility on the police is greater than before. This means that their role is not only addressing crimes as it was previously, but, controlling crimes, social issues, and quality of the issues of life.
References
Queens Printer for Ontario (2010). Community Policing Strategies. Retrieved April 2010, from http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/volume5/preventing03_community_polcing.aspx
Use the order calculator below and get started! Contact our live support team for any assistance or inquiry.
[order_calculator]