Community Oriented Policing Recommendation Essay

Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)

The suitability and appropriateness of COPS in dealing with contemporary issues and is based on the proactive manner in which crime is dealt with. COPS is an integrated program that focuses on engaging the community, enforcing laws traditionally and preventing crimes and related issues mainly through partnering strategically with the community through their leaders and adopting effective ways of solving present and emerging problems (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). The for the effectiveness of community policing are: transformation of institutions in terms of personnel, management, information systems and structures; community partnerships aimed at developing solutions to problems and increasing trust in the relationships mainly among government agencies, , media, community members/groups and private businesses; and problem solving through problem identification and evaluation of responses that are effective (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010).

The rates and nature of crime and other related issues have been high and more complicated. This has largely been due to problems of socio-political and economic settings such as unemployment, poverty, racial issues and increased cost of living among others which have led to crimes fostered by the development of technology. The crimes have ranged from gang crimes, violence, robberies and murder, knife crimes, rapes, burglary and other forms of violence (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010). The reduction of crime can be realized through a crime reduction community policing program.

The need for community policing

The dynamic nature of crime has made it a top issue in matters of security. The prevention and control of crime requires adequate resources. The main resources in crime matters is information which can mainly be obtained from the community affected. The community is usually aware of the whereabouts of the crimes committed, has ideas for controlling and preventing the same and is mainly concerned with its safety. This makes the involvement of community members in crime reduction programs effective. In addition, it is only rational enough to have them involved since their areas are the concern of law enforcing agencies failure to which would cause the law enforcers to make conclusions, measures and actions that are detrimental to the safety of the community (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010).

The responsibility of law enforcement is quite inclusive. This means that the police are not the only law and order guardians. The community has responsibilities of reporting crime, providing necessary information regarding crimes, adopting individual safety measures and calling the police in times of crime (Jersey Village Police, 2004).

Crime reduction program normally focuses on problem oriented ways of prevention. Such problem oriented policies have been known to be effective in crime prevention and hence their need cannot be overlooked (Braga, 2008).

The goals of community policing

Since the involvement of the community in is indispensable, the main aim is ensuring safe neighborhoods while improving the quality of lives for the residents (Braga, 2008). The matters that the community is faced with determine its goals hence the program would differ from one community to another though there is evidence of relation. According to Jersey Village Police (2004), the main goals of community policing in crime reduction are: the maintenance and increase of trust in the police, improving public awareness of crime and the police department, solving crimes, fostering a decreased fear of crime, listening to and addressing the concerns of the residents, channeling community resources to problem solving, impacting specific problems of crime and ultimately reductions in crime rates.