HISTORY OF POLICING

European History, Eras of Policing, Early American Policing, Texas Rangers, US Marshals, 1st Police Force and 1st Detectives

What You Will Learn in the Unit

Word of the Day ~ Person of the Day

Magistrate – a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes.

Sir Robert Peel – helped create the Metropolitan Police Act, creating the first large-scale, organized police force. Was also a British Prime Minister.

Kin Policing

Families, tribes, clans enforced informal rules and customs

All members of the group enforced

From Private Matters to Public Enforcement

Magistrates appointed

Created the 1st paid police force to patrol (called praefectus urbi)

Roman empire fell Whose job was it

to “police?”

Kings Must Find a Way to “Police”

Primarily used military to enforce the law

Also used “watchmen,” ordinary citizens authorized to look for problems, investigate and arrest

This evolved into the Frankpledge system – in the 1100’s (12th Century) families grouped into TENS (remember this from common law). The tens was called a “tithing.”

Males were responsible for members of their group.

Tithings (or tens) were grouped into parishes (the HUNDREDS that you remember from common law). The head of the Hundred was called a REEVE.

The Shire Reeve – County Sheriff

Groups of 100 families were formed into counties.

The chief law enforcement in the county was the Shire Reeve.

The Shire Reeve reported to the KING.

Constables were appointed to assist the sheriff.

Magistrates/Justices of the Peace were appointed to decide criminal offenses.

The positions were VOLUNTEERS. No regular salaries.

The Bow Street Runners –PAID$$$

1735 – permission given to pay watchmen from taxes

John & Henry Fielding (magistrates) hired constables to patrol, became known as the Bow Street Runners.

Performed investigations and known as the 1st detective unitShift towards paying people to police

1829- Military organization with ranks – emphasis on prevention – uniforms – officers called “bobbies.”

Sir Robert Peel – Founder of the first organized police force

Quid Pro Quo – You Scratch My Back and I will Scratch

Yours (Patronage)POLICING COMES TO AMERICA

*Got their jobs by being friends with politicians

* Had to stay in line to keep their jobs

* Corruption

* Used more force than English Bobbies

English policing did not involve as much politics and officers were not intentionally brutal as part of the job.

The Political Era – The Reform Era – The Community Era – The New Era

The Eras of Policing (1840s-Present)

The Political Era (1840-1930)

Organize like military

Focused on serving politicians

Brutal and corrupt Appointed or hired

by politicians Society was

rapidly changing

The Reform Era (1930s – 1970s)

Focus on crime fighting Eradicating the Mob Removal of politics End corruption Increase level of

professionalism of officers

Criminal Justice becomes an academic discipline

August Vollmer leads reform effort.With Univ. of California, starts CJ

program of study.

The Community Era (1970s-2001)

Identify and serve each community’s needs

Partner with community

Partnerships decrease crime, prevents crime, and helps solve crime

Police are more effective when the people theyserve and protect work with them.

The New Era (2001 – Present)

Policing shifts focus to securing the country

Fighting terrorism Partnerships to

gather intelligence Departments

focused on surveillance and counter-terrorism created

4 Eras of Policing

US Marshals – FBI – ATF – DEA and a whole lot of other Acronyms

The Creation of State and Federal Law Enforcement

Initially tracked counterfeiters and maintained law and order in the West – Now hunt federal fugitives and protect airplanes.

US Marshals -

Targets crimes committed using the mail

US Postal Inspector

Formed in 1908 – Investigates federal crimes

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Investigation and prevention of federal offenses involving the unlawful use, manufacture, and possession of firearms and explosives; acts of arson and bombings; and illegal trafficking of alcohol and tobacco products.

Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)

Investigates counterfeiting and protects the President and other highly-placed politicians and judges.

Secret Service

Keep drugs from crossing borders; prevents human trafficking and illegal immigration; helps fight terrorism.

Border Patrol

There are many other federal departments and agencies that can use your talents, including the DEA, Homeland Security, NSA, CIA and the military. Criminal Justice in America started from limited opportunities for the few to a plethora of opportunities for many.

Keep your record clean; don’t use drugs; learn a foreign language; have good credit; and watch what you post online.

Careers