Public vs. Private Policing

Public versus Private Policing CJA 500 April 19, 2010 Chris Bragg Public versus Private Policing In recent years, both the numbers of police officers in the United States has been declining. However, the rates for many white-collar crimes, such as computer crimes, employee theft, and fraud, are increasing. Public policing has been known to have a monopoly on policing until the increased trend in private policing in the United States. Public and private policing have many similarities as well as differences and the distinction between public and private police are often blurred. Public Policing Public policing has always been known as the frontline in protecting the society and one of their major assets is the public’s accountability. Recent studies have shown that to some people, a uniformed police can transmit a feeling of respect and security, and through that, he may even be preventing crime just by their presence. The role of public policing is governing both the future and the past: preventing crime and rendering justice with respect to past crimes. Its favored strategy is deterrence on punishment because punishment promises both to prevent crime and to exact a cost for misdeeds already done. Public policing must provide a full range of police services to the public. Public police are particularly experienced, trained, and skilled in the exercise of persuasive authority to command compliance with their safety orders and needs. They are also trained and effective in the use of tactics such as undercover policing, arrest, use of weaponry to protect themselves and the public as-needed, and investigation related to preparing cases for referral to the prosecutor. On the other hand, public police must be taught ‘how to’ do community policing, a type of policing that requires an entirely different approach and language. It requires a different manner of speaking and a different choice of words from traditional policing. It requires a

References: T. Jones. (1998). Private Security and Public Policing. Retrieved April 19, 2010 from www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=30434190 Shearing and Stenning. (1983). The Interweaving of Public and Private Police. Retrieved on April 19, 2010 from web.mit.edu/gtmarx/www/private.html (May 12, 2009). Private security and public policing. Retrieved on April 19, 2010 from www.statcan.gc.ca › ... › 85-002-X_ › _Juristat