The Challenges of Contemporary Policing

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The system of policing as is evident in contemporary society contains multiple challenges to the system of policing itself, the community as whole and also specific groups in society. This is evident through the challenges that are presented through the factors of corruption, misconduct and mental illness. It will be argued that the evidence of corruption and misconduct in the police force provides detrimental affects upon particular groups in the community, which reflects upon the efficiency of policing. This will be illustrated through the example of the Rampart Scandal, which identifies these factors as failing the system. Consequently, it will also examine the effects that the role of mental illness plays on the community and the success of policing. This will be done through elaborating on the changes that have occurred in relation to the care of those that are mentally ill. However, although it will be discussed that these challenges will have beneficial effects on the community by focusing coming into contact with a marginalized group, it will also identify the effects of doing so without the appropriate training.

Challenges of contemporary policing are evident through the system of the police force itself, through the occurrence of corruption and misconduct. However, there are challenging definitions, based on the view of the author, which means these terms are often used interchangeably and can also be used in a specific and/or broadly manner. Corruption, in reference to police, is defined as ‘acts of commission or omission in return for some gain or promise focuses principally on bribery and on financial arrangements for not enforcing the law’ (Newburn, T, Newyroud, P 2008, p. 51). This further differs from that of mis...

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...the Rampart Corruption Incident: Final Report, Los Angeles Police Department, viewed 1 April 2014, http://www.lapdonline.org/assets/pdf/boi_pub.pdf
• Prenzler, T, Ransley, J 2002, Corruption and Reform: Global Trends and Theoretical Perspectives, Hawkins Press, Annandale.
• Reese, R 2003, ‘The Multiple Causes of the LAPD Rampart Scandal’, Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 16, pp. 85-95.
• Rose-Ackerman, S 1978, Corruption: A study in Political Economy, Academic Press, New York.
• Rutherford, S 2008, The Victorian Asylum, Shire Publications, United Kingdom.
• Westmarland, L 2005, ‘Police Ethics and Integrity: Breaking the Blue Code of Silence’, Policing & Society, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 145-165.
• Teplin L & Pruett, N 1992, Police as Streetcorner Pychiatrist: Managing The Mentally Ill, International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp. 139–156.

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