Langworthy, Robert H. : University of Alaska-Anchorage
Travis, Lawrence P. : University of Cincinnati
Summary
For Introduction to Policing, Law Enforcement, and specialization courses on policing at the freshman/sophomore
undergraduate level. Written in a smooth style that promotes conceptual understanding and integration, this intriguing
text on policing in America uses a "balance of forces" metaphor throughout to help assimilate discussions
centering material around a recurrent analytical theme that seeks to define police as a product of correlated social,
historical, political, legal, individual, and organizational forces. Providing a detailed description of policing
with probing analyses of current police and practice problems, it covers the complexity of policing in America,
and offers a comprehensive survey of the different police and law enforcement agencies working in the country today.
Features
NEW - Thoroughly updates data and research literature citations to reflect today's most progressive ideas and
findings about police.
NEW - Places a greater emphasis on the topic of police discretion.
NEW - Groups major "correlates" of policing into one section, offering insightful chapter perspectives
on police and the community, police organization goals and structures, police management, and the characteristics
of police officers.
NEW - Adds a new chapter that describes and analyzes the dominant trend of community policing in America.
Offers complete,"big picture" coverage of the major issues involved in policing in America.
Analyzes the history of policing and assesses the social, political, and historical forces that correlate with
both the rise of formal policing and the variety of shapes such policing has taken.
Examines the police industry in the U.S., describing federal, state, special-purpose, private, and local policing
agencies; their history; and their current status.
Discusses the major correlates of policing, i.e., organization, officers, and communities.
Considers the basic functions of police in American society.
Applies the lessons learned to an analysis of the development of community policing, an assessment of police
misconduct and control, and the likely future of policing in America.
Provides ample pedagogical aids, including chapter outlines, check-up questions at the end of each chapter,
a running glossary (that highlights and defines important words when they first appear).
Table of Contents
PART I. DEVELOPING A PERSPECTIVE
Understanding the Police.
The Early History of Policing.
The English Roots of American Policing.
The Evolution of Policing in America.
PART II. THE LAW ENFORCEMENT INDUSTRY IN AMERICA
Federal and State Police.
Private and Social-Purpose Police.
Municipal and Local Police.
PART III. CORRELATES OF POLICING : ORGANIZATIONS, OFFICERS, AND COMMUNITIES
Police Organizations.
Individuals in Policing : Officers and Supervisors.
Police Officers.
Police and Community.
PART IV. THE FUNCTIONS OF POLICING IN AMERICA
Law Enforcement and the Police.
Service and the Police.
Order and the Police.
PART V. DILEMMAS IN POLICING
Community Policing : Tying it all Together.
Controlling the Police.
Current Trends and Future Issues in Policing.
