The Pros And Cons Of Traditional Policing

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Initial Response

Traditional policing is synonymous with crime fighting and crime control and is reactive. In the past 200 years, the techniques of traditional policing have not changed much (Wilson and Petersila, 2011). Police officers patrol public areas to deter and interrupt crime (Lee, 1901) (as cited in Wilson and Petersilia, 2011). Community policing is proactive, and law enforcement form partnerships and involve community leaders and its residents to prevent crime. According to Wilson and Petersilia (2011), police consultations with community leaders also helps improve relations between the police and the people they serve.

The benefit to approaching gangs from a traditional aspect is that gang members are removed from the streets. On the other hand, all gang members are not violent. The limitation to approaching gangs from a traditional aspect is that gang members that have the potential to be rehabilitated get stigmatized and many of these young people are set on a path to prison. Another limitation to the traditional approach are tough crime policies that enable harassment as well as profiling for the congregation of teenagers. All groups of teenagers are not gangs. Approaching gangs from a community policing aspect is much more promising. Law enforcement head programs that can help young people get on the right track before they end up dead or in prison. GREAT is a school based program that led to a decline in gang involvement (Wilson and Petersilia, 2011). Limitations to approaching gangs from the community policing aspect is that it …show more content…

Community policing is the best approach to combating gangs, most especially with programs that are set up in schools. The Spergel Model or the Comprehensive Strategy sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention which involves multiple agencies that provide services through social service, justice, educational and community agencies (Wilson and Petersilia,

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