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Style of Policing

There are three main styles of policing: watchman, legalistic, and service. The watchman style emphasizes maintaining order and is common in lower-middle class areas with high crime. It focuses on order maintenance, controlling illegal behavior, and using discretion. The legalistic style emphasizes strict law enforcement and professionalism. Departments use this style take a "laissez-faire" approach to non-criminal behavior. The service style emphasizes helping the community and meeting individual needs, as seen in suburban areas. These departments strive to help residents rather than just enforce laws and supplement activities with community resources.

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Mariz Bueta
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367 views3 pages

Style of Policing

There are three main styles of policing: watchman, legalistic, and service. The watchman style emphasizes maintaining order and is common in lower-middle class areas with high crime. It focuses on order maintenance, controlling illegal behavior, and using discretion. The legalistic style emphasizes strict law enforcement and professionalism. Departments use this style take a "laissez-faire" approach to non-criminal behavior. The service style emphasizes helping the community and meeting individual needs, as seen in suburban areas. These departments strive to help residents rather than just enforce laws and supplement activities with community resources.

Uploaded by

Mariz Bueta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Style of policing

1. WATCHMAN - EMPHASIZES MAINTAINING ORDER,


USUALLY FOUND IN COMMUNITIES WITH DECLINING
INDUSTRIAL BASED, AND A BLUE COLLAR, MIXED
ETHNIC/ RACIAL POPULATION.
THE WATCHMAN STYLE OF POLICING ARE TYPICALLY IN
LOWER-MIDDLE CLASS AREAS THAT HAVE A LOT OF
CRIME.
THIS STYLE IS MARKED BY:
-ORDER MAINTENANCE.
-CONTROLLING ILLEGAL AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR.
-CONSIDERABLE USE OF DIRECTION.
2. LEGALISTIC – EMPHASIZES LAW ENFORCEMENT AND
PROFFESSIONALISM.
LEGALISTIC STYLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE
COMMITTED TO ENFORCING THE LETTER OF THE LAW
AND TAKE A “LAISSEZ FAIRE” STANCE ON BEHAVIOR’S
THAT ARE SIMPLY BOTHERSOME.
2. SERVICE – EMPHASIZES THE SERVICE FUNCTIONS
OF POLICE WORK USUALLY FOUND IN SUBURDAN,
MIDDLE CLASS COMMUNITIES WHERE RESIDENTS
DEMAND INDIVIDUAL TREATMENT.
SERVICE STYLE POLICE DEPARTMENTS STRIVE TO MEET
COMMUNITY NEEDS. THEY ARE:
-CONCERED WITH HELPING RATHER THAN STRICTLY
ENFORCING THE LAWS.
-MORE LIKELY TO SUPPLEMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT
ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
-POPULAR TODAY.

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