Crackdown on Underage Drinking Issues - Assignment Example

? Police Intervention Tactics in Solving Problems in a Neighborhood: Street Racing and Under-age Drinking Issues In the business of policing, the well-being of the community is the most important reason for the existence of police. Working with the community is essential to any successful implementation of a program that is activated in order to rid a community of crime, particularly when there is an overload of one particular crime. In this example, a program is designed to rid a neighborhood of vehicle street racers and to also crack down on underage drinking issues, which in this case, may go hand in hand. With the two issues, this is obviously a potential hazard to children who may be playing outside in the neighborhood. The drinking issue by underage young people also presents the environment for further crime to be committed such as robberies and assault, along with gang fights. Introduction One of the most important aspect of policing efficiently is the use of patrol units that regularly canvas the same neighborhoods on a regular basis. Officers in patrol cars or on foot patrols get to know the neighborhood and the people when they see the same places with the same people over and over again (Craven 2009). This also helps to establish relationships between the police and the people in the neighborhood and is essential when there are a rash of crimes being committed as police can go to the people and request help in reporting suspicious activity (Allen & Sawhney 2009). A good representation of this is the Neighborhood Watch team which has neighborhood members who drive or walk around neighborhoods and then call in to the police anything that looks suspicious (Hunter & Barker 2011). Utilizing the principles of COPPS (Community Orientated Policing and Problem Solving) requires that the police department engage with the community and develop efficient trusting connections that will promote information gathering techniques from the community to the police department which oversees that community. This will help to promote a safer community for all where people can live and raise their families (COPPS 2013). In this example, there has been a surge in street racing of cars and other vehicles, seriously compromising the safety and security of the neighborhood. Along with this, there has also been underage drinking reported among those who have been caught, either driving these vehicles, or creating a public nuisance in various areas of the neighborhood such as the playgrounds. A program will be studied and devised to assist in eliminating these issues before there is a serious life-threatening accident, particularly to young neighborhood children when they are out playing with their friends (Allen & Sawhney 2009). Both COPPS and the SARA principles will be used in combination to create, develop and implement this program (SARA 2013; COPPS 2013). First Steps – SARA In designing a program to solve a neighborhood problem, the tools of SARA must be implemented first to begin in the information collection process of the problem. SARA is comprised of the four tools of Scanning, Analysis, Response and Assessment (SARA 2013). The first three tools are essential for use in information gathering and mapping the situation in order to design the response needed. The scanning of the neighborhood is important to understand layout factors, what current patrols are already in place, sorting through the reports of problems over a specific time period (a year), and then mapping these to get a visual picture of where the majority of the crimes are being committed (SARA 2013; Hunter & Barker 2011; Cordner & Scarborough 2010). If a sector presents itself as being a hot spot of activity, based on the reports analysis, then a higher level of patrol cars will be detailed to that area, particularly if it is noted that these crimes occur mainly in the late hours of the day. The analysis will also show if there is a higher volume on the weekends when young offenders are not at school and therefore, out on the streets to create problems (COPPS 2013; Dempsey & Forst 2013). Friday and Saturday nights, so far, have shown to be the most active nights for street racing, particularly on those streets with a long straight stretch, prime for such activities. Local parks and other neighborhood hangouts for young people will also be reviewed in terms of implementing foot patrols or squad car patrols, during times where gatherings are more prolific by neighborhood youngsters and potentially, outsiders who have determined this as an area to promote underage drinking and other crimes (SARA 2013; Craven 2009). Such activities, if not curbed, can also lead to other crimes such as robberies, assaults and rapes on young girls (Allen & Sawhney 2009). Involving the Neighborhood After the process of scanning and analysis of the situation, it is important that the community meet with designated police officers so that the police can inform the local people that a program is being designed to help curb the crimes in the neighborhood. Information is also passed out to the people so they know specifically who to call if they see anything that needs to be reported (Peak 2012; COPPS 2013; Hunter & Barker 2011). If there is already a neighborhood watch, then the police will also meet with them as well. At the same meeting with the local people, information from the people will also be gathered regarding any other problems that have been going on that the police may not know about. For example, people might be experiencing slashed tires, broken vehicle windows or some other events that may not have been called in, for whatever reasons. Issues, such as open backyard gates, missing pets, or missing garden tools, may also indicate that offenders are moving through people’s back yards in order to get from one point to another, and stealing items along the way (Hunter & Barker 2011; COPPS 2013). Tracking these occurrences may become crucial to know ahead of time what escape patterns are being developed. At the time of meeting with local neighbors and the neighborhood watch team, it is essential that the police also outline rules of engagement in order to keep the public safe from assaults. As the issue with the Florida case of Zimmerman and Martin, where someone was killed, all neighbors must know what they are allowed to do, which mainly would be calling the police when they see something rather than going outside to connect with an offender (COPPS 2013). Each State has its regulations and therefore, everyone should be made aware of what rights they have in taking various actions, such as if an offender breaks into someone’s home while the owner is there, or if someone’s property is being broken into, such as a vehicle. Setting the Design and Funding It is essential to design the program in such a way as to promote the final concepts that are easily presentable to those decision makers with the funds needed for such a situation. This may be a matter of going to the City Council, the State government or even through available grants, if needed (COPPS 2013; Dempsey & Forst 2013). Getting the funding for what is actually needed in achieving success, is the last step before implementation. If more funding is not available through normal channels, then a redesign of the program may be needed. This may include paying overtime to existing officers on the payroll rather than investing in new hires. More squad cars may be needed, but rather than buying new ones, the option to rent from another department may be the best way to conserve department funds. The funding process will be an important part of any program design, particularly where manpower is concerned (COPPS 2013; SARA 2013; Cordner & Scarborough 2010). If the manpower needed to accomplish the goal is not available because of funding limitations, then getting creative in how to come up with funds will also be important. Approaching the community, particularly where businesses are concerned, may help to put pressure on City Councils in order to get the funding, or to approach the State government in order to get it that way. Setting Up the Patrol System This section is the response action taken to begin removing the problem. Once the funding is in place, the police administrator who sets up the patrols, will design the patrol system for that neighborhood, based on all the data gathered and analyzed by the department (Craven 2009; Hunter & Barker 2011). This can include the patrol cars with two officers each, teams of foot patrol officers in appropriate areas, and also any coordination with neighborhood watch teams as well. Once the teams are in place and active, assessments from the patrol officers will be gathered in the first month every week. This is to help fine-tune the system to add or subtract patrols from one area to another (SARA 2013). This is also based on the crime reports that might be coming in and a review and analysis of the statistics and re-mapping of the problem. The designated police communications team which met previously with the neighborhood people, will also have a second meeting with the neighborhood after the first month is over, in order to get feedback from the community, especially if there are new problems cropping up from the program’s activation. Staying in touch with the community and fostering confidence and interaction between all parties is essential to success for the program and resolving the issues as they arise (SARA 2013; COPPS 2013; Hunter & Barker 2011). Assessment of the Program This will actually begin at the end of the first week of implementation when feedback from the patrol officers is gathered and reviewed in team meetings. There is also a continuous assessment of the program through mapping and ongoing analysis of crime reports coming in which will indicate various patterns, particularly if they shift out to another sector, due to the increased police presence (SARA 2013; Peak 2012). With this possibility in mind, it is also important for departments to communicate with surrounding departments to let them know what is going on, in case they must also implement the same increase in patrols. Another factor is the database system and its use in determining and analyzing information that comes in from around the state (SARA 2013; COPPS 2013; Craven 2009). Having access to this main database is essential for a department to have, so that information on particular crimes and offenders is available to everyone in order to see patterns and perhaps to forecast potential problems. Conclusion The success of any program implemented by the police to solve neighborhood problems will have greater success when the community is involved as partners (Allen & Sawhney 2009). It is important that the police are seen as the helping hand to reducing crime of any type in the neighborhood and that the police are there to help and not promote fear, except for the offenders (Craven 2009). Additionally, the use of administrative tools such as SARA and COPPS in conjunction with electronic databases and mapping tools, are valuable in seeing the more complete picture through a statistical overview (SARA 2013; COPPS 2013; Peak 2012; Cordner & Scarborough 2010). It also will show whether a system implemented is successful or not by the numbers output. A program of this nature is most successful with the combination of all these tools. Resources Allen, J.M. & Sawhney, R. (2009). Administration and Management in Criminal Justice: A Service Quality Approach. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. COPPS. (2013). Community Orientated Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) – What is it? City of Kirkland, Washington Police Department. Retrieved from Cordner, G.W. & Scarborough, K.E. (2010). Police Administration. (7th ed.). Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing. Craven, K. (2009). Foot Patrols: Crime Analysis and Community Engagement to Further the Commitment to Community Policing. Community Policing Dispatch (COPS) Online. Retrieved from Dempsey, J.S. & Forst, L.S. (2013). An Introduction to Policing (7th ed.). Independence, KY: Cengage Learning. Hunter, R.D., & Barker, T. (2011). Police – Community Relations and the administration of Justice. (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Peak, K. J. (2012). Justice Administration: Police, Courts, and Corrections Management, (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. SARA. (2013). Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. CPOP Online/SARA. 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