Community, Definition of

Changing Roles

The common police motto “to protect and serve” assumes the role of police to be caretakers of the community. It also suggests that the role of the community in addressing crime is passive. That may be an effective role if a community is small, demographically similar, and experiences low levels of crime. But in the burgeoning, disparate, and crime-impacted communities of urban and suburban areas, the caretaker role is only one of many responsibilities police must assume to impact the challenges of crime.

In the 1970s, crime prevention initiatives were introduced throughout the United States to bring police and communities closer together. Police departments were awarded grants to address various crime problems by involving the community, with a secondary goal of improving community relations. Crime prevention programs focused on the reduction of a crime problem identified through extensive crime analysis. The goal of these programs was to educate residents about what they could do to reduce their chances of becoming victims. One traditional strategy employed by many police departments was organizing block watches and training residents in target hardening (i.e., strengthening the security of their residences and businesses). The new skill set for the area patrol or crime prevention officer included basic crime analysis, public speaking, and community organizing. Overall, these programs achieved their goal of reducing crime, but the success was often short lived because the police, not the community, were viewed as the entity responsible for crime reduction.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, community policing was introduced as a new philosophy that looked at changing and more clearly defining the roles of not only the police, but the community as well. It is a proactive approach that relies on partnerships and problem solving to address crime and quality-of-life issues. It provides a process for engaging the community and building a long-term collaboration including, but not limited to, police, residents, businesses, faith communities, schools, government agencies, and nonprofit service organizations. Police and community are problem-solving partners actively engaged in all aspects of the police problem-solving process—SARA, for scanning, analysis, response and assessment. They share responsibility for problem solving.

Through scanning and analysis, the police no longer prioritize the crime problem based solely on reported crime. Police listen to the community’s priorities that often include unreported crime, nuisance crimes, and broader issues such as lack of quality education or employment opportunities, and limited government and social services. By enlisting the community’s experience and resources throughout the problem-solving process, effective and targeted responses are planned, implemented, and assessed.

In addition to the aforementioned crime prevention skills, police have acquired skills in surveying their communities, complex crime and community analysis, communication technology, and conflict resolution. They also seek information and an understanding about community risk and protective factors. Crime is viewed as symptomatic of larger issues that negatively impact community safety and well-being. Examples of risk factors include poverty, unemployment, low literacy, poor health, and family issues. Protective factors include stable housing, employment, successful schools, and community involvement opportunities.

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