Course Learning Outcomes for Unit II Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 3. Assess the viability of the broken windows theory in the 21st century. 6. Discuss police-community relationships regarding the media, gangs, and the process of assimilation. 6.1 Discuss police-community relationships regarding the process of assimilation. Reading Assignment Chapter 3: Understanding and Involving the Community Chapter 6: Communicating with a Diverse Population Unit Lesson The term “community” has varying definitions. Thus, it is important to specify how community is defined when referring to community policing. In this context, a community is defined as a “specific geographic area served by a police department or law enforcement agency and individuals, organizations, and agencies within that area” (Miller, Hess, & Orthmann, 2014, p. 61). Inherent in this definition of community are several basic concepts. For example, the notion of social contract, which suggests that justice is linked to the relinquishing of some of your individual freedom, and the notion of social capital which refers to a community’s social structure and the collective actions of individuals within that structure. It is also understood that law enforcement must be a part of the community in order to fulfill their mission and that there must be a “sense of community” that assists in uniting the community and maintaining order. Wilson and Kelling’s (1982) article entitled “Broken Windows” is one of the most well-known assessments on community dynamics and its impact on crime. They argued that if you have a community in which there are signs of a lack of caring of the citizens, you will also have a community in which crime will occur. This notion of “Broken Windows” spoke to the existence of broken windows as a sign of the absence of caring for the community. That is to say that in communities in which there is actually a sense of community, broken windows will be repaired, abandoned lots will be kept clean, broken down cars will not be allowed to sit endlessly on street corners, and loitering will be controlled. We can all think of communities that we have lived in, lived near, or passed through that showed obvious signs of decay. We can probably recall our initial reactions regarding how much the community was not valued and the type of citizen that lived in the community. We can also think of communities in which there were minimal or no signs of decay and what our initial thoughts about that community and the types of community members that lived in that community were. Thus, if we can recall our thoughts about the two aforementioned communities, as an outsider looking in on those communities, we can only imagine what insiders looking out from those communities might see. It is often said that perception is reality. This is why some people often rush to clean up their home before guests are allowed. The same concept can be applied to communities. If the community is perceived by insiders and outsiders as a caring community, then it will be treated as a caring community by members of the community and outsiders. However, if the community is seen as a non-caring community (that is to say, a community that allows decay and crime to fester), then the community will be treated as a decaying and crime-infested community by community members and outsiders. Law enforcement must address several factors that impact their ability to implement and sustain community policing strategies in their community. In addition to addressing the neighborhood decay, law enforcement UNIT II STUDY GUIDE Community Dynamics and Involvement BCJ 4101, Police and Community Relations 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title must also deal with issues of diversity, violent crime, and community buy-in. There are also phenomenon that take place within the community in response to changes in community demographics, which can also impact the implementation, sustainability, and effectiveness of community policing (e.g., displacement, tipping point, and “White flight”). Communities are constantly changing, and these changes can be both good and bad. Community changes to demographics can include changes to community size, population size, employment rate, race/ethnicity composition, and vital statistics (e.g., age, education, and income). Law enforcement agencies have implemented various programs to encourage citizens to become involved with law enforcement in the community. As a result, citizens have the opportunity to serve on civilian review boards that provide oversight to law enforcement agencies, participate in citizen patrols, attend citizen police academies, participate in police “ride-alongs,” and volunteer in various capacities with law enforcement agencies in the community. Differences between the types of law enforcement (i.e., public or private) can also impact the implementation, sustainability, and effectiveness of community policing strategies. Public and private law enforcement agencies do not always have the same mission. As a result, there is a potential for conflict between public and private law enforcement agencies as they attempt to fulfill their mission. In addition, the regulatory guidelines that apply to public law enforcement agencies do not always apply to private law enforcement agencies. Thus, there may be differences in policing styles that further complicate the ability for public and private law enforcement agencies to collaborate within a community. Although these differences exist, it is possible for both public and private law enforcement agencies to work together to achieve the objectives of community policing strategies: citizen and law enforcement collaboration in protecting and serving their community. 

Attachments:

• 1517322506-Unit II Assignment.pdf
• 1517322511-unit II.pdf
• 1517322512-Unit II Case Study.pdf