crime prevention
the anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of a crime risk and the initiation of action to eliminate or reduce it.
CompStat
a crime-analysis and police management process, built on crime mapping, that was developed by the New York City Police Department in the mid-1990s
quality of life offense
a minor violation of the law (sometime called a petty crime) that demoralizes community residents and business people. Quality of life offenses involve acts that create physical disorder (for example, excessive noise or vandalism) or that reflect social d
response time
a measure of the time that it takes for police officers to respond to calls for service
criminal investigation
the process of discovering, collecting, preparing, identifying and presenting evidence to determine what happened and who is responsible when a crime has occurred
crime scene
the physical area in which a crime is though to have occurred and in which evidence of the crime is though to reside
preliminary investigation
all of the activities undertaken by a police officer who responds to the scene of a crime, including determining whether a crime has occurred, securing the crime scene and preserving evidence.
crime scene investigator
an expert trained in the use of forensics techniques, such as gathering DNA evidence, collecting fingerprints, photographing the scene, sketching, and interviewing witnesses
solvability factor
information about a crime that forms the basis for determining the perpetrator's identity
police management
the administrative activities of controlling, directing, and coordinating police personnel, resources, and activities in the service of preventing crime, apprehending criminals, recovering stole property, and performing regulatory and helping services
line operations
in police organizations the field activities or supervisory activities directly related to day to day police work
staff operations
in police organizations, activities such as administration and training that provide support for line operations
chain of command
the unbroken line of authority that extends through all levels of an organization, from the highest to the lowest.
span of control
the number of police personnel or the number of units supervised by a particular commander
watchman style
a style of police marked by a concern for order maintenance. Watchman policing is characteristic of lower-class communities where police intervene informally in to the lives of resident to keep the peace.
legalistic style
a style of policing marked by a strict concern with enforcing the precise letter of the law. Legalistic departments may take a hands-off approach to disruptive or problematic behavior that does not violate the criminal law.
service style
a style of policing marked by concern with helping rather than a strict enforcement. Service oriented police agencies are more likely to use community resources, such as drug treatment programs, to supplement traditional law enforcement activities than ar
police community relations
an area of police activity that recognizes the need for the community and the police to work together effectively. PCR is based on the nation that the police derive their legitimacy from the community they serve. Many police agencies began to explore PCR
team policing
the reorganization of conventional patrol strategies into an integrated and versatile police team assigned to a fixed district
strategic policing
a type of policing that retains the traditional police goal of professional crime fighting but enlarges the enforcement target to include nontraditional kinds of criminals, such as serial offenders, gangs, and criminal association, drug distribution netwo
problem solving policing
a type of policing that assumes that crimes can be controlled by uncovering and effectively addressing the underlying social problems that cause crime. Problem solving policing makes use of community resources, such as counseling centers, welfare programs
community policing
a collaborative effort between the police and the community that identifies problems of crime and disorder and involves all elements of the community in the search for solutions to these problems.
police subculture
a particular set of values, beliefs, and acceptable forms of behavior characteristic of American police. Socialization into the police subculture begins with recruit training and continues thereafter
intelligence led policing
the collection and analysis of information to produce and intelligence end product designed to inform police decision making at both the tactical and strategical levels.
criminal intelligence
information compiled, analyzed, or disseminated in an effort to anticipate, prevent, or monitor criminal activity
NLETS
The International Justice and Public Safety Information Sharing Network
police discretion
the opportunity for police officers to exercise choice in their enforcement activities
police professionalism
the increasing formalization of police work and the accompanying rise in public acceptance of the police.
police ethics
the special responsibility to adhere to moral duty and obligation that is inherent in police work
Peace officer standards and training program
the official program of a state or legislative jurisdiction that sets standards for the training of law enforcement officers. All states set such standards, although not all use the term POST.