Introduction
It is of no secret that most criminal justice organizations, including police, tend to be highly formalized. Yet, some scientists think that it is possible to consider police officers as professionals like lawyers or doctors, even though they work in a highly rule-bound environment of police departments. This paper aims to provide evidence for this view and recommend changes to the organizational structure of criminal justice agencies.
Main Objectives
Police and criminal justice agencies went through a long process of reforms during the last century. According to Katznelson (1979), in his book “Big city police,” Fogelson gives a panoramic view of how the police was formed as a social institution during the municipal reform. In the 1900s-1920s, the reform was supported by the Progressive movement, which opposed police dependence on local bosses and ingrained the concept of public service as the basis for social mobility.
The internal organization of police forces was achieved only in the 1930s-1960s. Leaders of this reform sought to achieve the professional autonomy for police workers, similar to the autonomy of doctors, lawyers, teachers, and other professionals. Such a desire was justified, as, during this reform, the departments were reorganized, incompetent police officers were fired, the pay was raised, and the working conditions were improved. However, in the late 1960s, due to occupational paranoia and emphasis on professionalization, “closed communities of police officers who saw themselves as apart from those they policed” were created (Katznelson, 1979, p. 702). That is why further reforms were required so that police could become a truly professional and independent power.
Mainly, police organizational structures were still in need of critical changes that could be implemented through community policing. Stone & Travis (2011) described community policing as a new direction in policing based on democratic values and intended to replace the organizational culture based on the “quasi-professional model” of the 1980s (p. 5). Scientists propose a new organizational approach based on community strategy that adheres to the principles of accountability, legitimacy, innovation, and national coherence. Stone & Travis (2011) emphasize that the police has to reform its strategy to cleanse itself from politically and historically formed bias.
They believe that new forensic science technologies, surveillance capabilities, and informational systems should be implemented only in conformity with the guidance of community policy principles.
Other scientists see the job in the police department more as a calling, when an individual devotes himself to serve the best interests of those he protects, adhering to the professional code of ethics. Glenn, Raymond, Barnes-Proby, Williams, & Christian (2003) emphasize that the values and management principles of police officers are universal for all professionals, meaning that each professional should act in a socially responsible manner. The tenets of Corporateness, Responsibility, and Expertise are distinguished as the main frameworks for such action and should be applied in police department training (Glenn et al., 2003).
The principle of Corporateness implies that only a qualified staff that maintains high standards of performance is allowed entry into a profession. Wherein the principle of Responsibility requires officers to serve the diverse society, and the principle of Expertise assumes that officers should have excellent communication and technical skills and be responsible for their professional development. Scientists summarize that mentioned above are the main differences between a professional and a simple wage worker.
Conclusion
Thus, evidence for seeing police workers as independent professionals were provided. Changes to the organizational structure of criminal justice agencies recommended by scientists were described as well. To summarize it, the police workers may be considered as professionals only when they adhere to their professional ethics, remain independent, and avoid internal isolation from the community. It may be achieved by implementing a fair and tolerant attitude towards the community while following the principles of Corporateness, Responsibility, and Expertise.
References
Glenn, R. W., Raymond, B., Barnes-Proby, D., Williams, E., & Christian, J. (2003). Training the 21st-century police officer: Redefining police professionalism for the Los Angeles Police Department. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Public Safety and Justice.
Katznelson, I. (1979). Big-city police by Robert M. Fogelson. Political Science Quarterly, 93(4), 701-703.
Stone, C. & Travis, J. (2011). Towards new professionalism in policing. New Perspectives in Policing Bulletin. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice.