MODEL ACADEMIC CURRICULUM

COURSE OVERVIEW

This project was supported by cooperative agreement #2005CKWXK001 by the Office of Community Oriented
Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions contained herein are those of the authors and do not
necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific companies,
products, or services should not be considered an endorsement of the product by the author or the U.S.
Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement discussion of the issues.
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PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING
AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Module 1 The Evolution of Policing

Module 2 Community Policing

Module 3 Introduction to Problem Oriented Policing

Module 4 The SARA Model 2

CRIME THEORIES & SITUATIONAL
CRIME PREVENTION

Module 5 Crime Theories and Crime Opportunity

Module 6 Situational Crime Prevention

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RESEARCHING/SCANNING AND
ANALYZING PROBLEMS

Module 7 Identifying and Researching Problems

Module 8 Problem Solving Resources

Module 9 Crime Analysis for Problem Solvers in 60

Small Steps

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 RETURNING TO THE CRIME
TRIANGLE

Module 10 Responding to Crime Places

Module 11 Responding to Offenders

Module 12 Responding to Targets/Victims

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ASSESSING YOUR PROBLEM SOLVING
STRATEGY AND OTHER CHALLENGES
TO IMPLEMENTING POP PROJECTS

Module 13 Assessing and Evaluating Responses

Module 14 Challenges and Future Considerations for

Implementing Successful POP Projects

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MODEL ACADEMIC CURRICULUM

MODULE 1
The Evolution of Policing

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 Module 1 Topics
Fundamental Objectives of Policing and the
Primary Police Functions

A Brief History of Policing

Policing Styles and Strategies

Types of Patrol
Broken Windows Theory
Crackdowns

Crime Science 8
 Fundamental Objectives
of Policing
To prevent and control conduct threatening to
life and property

To aid crime victims and protect people in

danger of physical harm

To protect constitutional guarantees such as the

right to free speech and assembly

To facilitate the movement of people and

vehicles 9
 Fundamental Objectives
of Policing
To assist those who cannot care for themselves
(e.g., intoxicated, mentally ill, elderly, young)

To resolve conflict between individuals, groups or

between citizens and the government

To identify problems that have the potential to

become more serious

To create and maintain feelings of security in the

community
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 Primary Police Functions
Service Delivery

Law Enforcement

Order Maintenance

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The Evolution of
Policing

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Developmental Stages of Policing

Informal Policing

Transitional Policing

Formal Policing

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 The Historical Eras of
Policing in America
Political Era

Professional/Reform Era

Community Policing Era

Are we now in a Problem-Solving Era??

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 Styles of Policing
Legalistic Style emphasis on law
enforcement function of policing

Service Style emphasis on delivering

service to the community

Watchman Style emphasis on

maintaining order in the community
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Reactive Policing vs. Proactive Policing
Police respond to citizen Police seek crime
calls for assistance solutions before the
Patrol is routine and crimes occur
unstructured Patrol is targeted
911 calls drive police Crime patterns drive
activity police activity
Dispatch section dictates Records
police activity Management/Research
Emphasis on solving dictates police activity
crimes Emphasis on preventing
crimes

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 Various Types of Police Patrol
Routine Patrol
Targeted Patrol
Directed Patrol
Offender-focused Patrol
Place-focused Patrol
Victim-focused Patrol
Foot Patrol
Others Horse, bike, air, boat,
snowmobile, etc. 17
 Broken Windows Theory
James Wilson and George Kelling

If you leave a broken window unfixed, its an

indicator of a lack of social concern and will lead
to more significant social and neighborhood decay

Paying attention to the details of a neighborhood

or community can impact crime and fear of crime

The best way to fight more serious crime is to

fight the disorder that precedes it
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 One Traditional Police Response
Crackdowns
Sudden and dramatic increases in police officer presence,
sanctions, and threats of apprehension either for specific
offenses or for all offenses in specific places

Crackdowns usually, but not necessarily, involve high

police visibility and numerous arrests.

Crackdowns may use undercover officers working with

uniformed police; may involve actions other than arrests.

Other terms commonly used for crackdowns Zero

Tolerance; Sweeps; Aggressive Policing
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Specific actions officers might take
as part of a crackdown include
arresting offenders;
issuing citations;
conducting field interviews;
issuing written or verbal warnings;
taking juvenile offenders into custody for status
offenses (for example, for truancy or curfew
violations);
conducting highly visible patrols;
conducting traffic stops;
serving search warrants;
serving arrest warrants
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 Benefits of Crackdowns

Crackdowns hold substantial appeal for the

public, police, and government officials.

They offer the promise of firm, immediate

action and quick, decisive results.

Crackdowns appeal to demands that order

be restored. 21
 Benefits of Crackdowns
Crackdowns can be effectiveat least in the
short termat reducing crime and disorder.

The positive effects of crackdowns sometimes

continue after the crackdowns end (sometimes
referred to as residual deterrence effects).

Crackdowns can reduce crime and disorder

outside the target area or reduce other offenses,
a phenomenon known as a diffusion of benefits.
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 Crackdowns
Police often use crackdowns in combination with
other responses to reduce crime and respond to
criminals.

targeting repeat offenders

conducting sting operations

educating and warning citizens

improving place management

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 Criticisms and Concerns
Often just a short-term impact

Potential for abuse of authority

Can be rather expensive

Significant impact on the CJ system

Limits use of resources in other areas

Concerns with displacement

May have an impact on police/community relationships 24

 Effective Policing Strategies
Are focused on statistical concentrations -
places, times, offenders, and victims.

Use a suite of interventions; some delivered

by the police and some delivered by others.

Are based on the idea of leverageworking

smarter, not harder.
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Why Should we Pay Attention to
Scientific Evidence?
Our instincts, our knee-jerk reactions, and our
gut impressions are often wrong

Many evaluations of crime prevention programs

find that the programs have no effect in reducing
crime or recidivism.

Many programs that research has demonstrated

to be ineffective are still widely used in policing.
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 An Even Better Reason to Pay
Attention to Scientific Evidence
Sometimes crime prevention programs fail to work and
they can actually INCREASE crime or recidivism.

One well-documented example is Scared Straight.

Another set of programs that often produce such
boomerang effects are those that bring juvenile
delinquents together in camps, detention facilities, or
recreational programs.

Perhaps the best reason to pay attention to the scientific

evidence comes from the field of medical ethics:
Primum Non Nocere or Above all, do no harm.
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