Community Policing and Problem Solving: Strategies and Practices

Unique in perspective and comprehensive in coverage, this volume fills a gap in the literature by providing an exceptionally up-to-date and scholarly synthesis of the collective nationwide experience in implementing both community policing and problem-oriented policing. It explains the processes and terms in detail—what they mean and how they are applied, as well as how they are implemented and evaluated. It explores both historical and operational perspectives, and provides examples of existing strategies and future considerations. Author team has over 35 years combined police service and 25 years of academic experience. The authors examine the evolution of policing, changing people, crime, and policing, community oriented government, community oriented policing and problem solving, crime prevention, planning and implementation, changing the agency culture, police in a diverse society, evaluating COPPS initiatives and COPPS in foreign venues. For police practitioners and other interested in community policing and problem solving.

This fourth edition of Community Policing and Problem Solving: Strategies and Practices analyzes community-oriented policing and problem solving (COPPS) from an applied perspective. To do so—and continuing to distinguish this book from others—it showcases more than 50 exhibits (and provides dozens of additional case studies and examples) of problem solving in the field.

While providing updated information about crime in the United States, with particular emphasis placed on terrorism, new sections have also been added concerning rave parties, school bullying, street racing, burglar alarms, and 911 calls. Also newly addressed are adult- and problem-based learning. Chapter sections on such major problems as racial profiling and hate crimes have also been updated, and the chapter on the future has received a major revision.

COPPS is now in its third generation (as discussed in Chapter 1), enjoying widespread public acceptance and the attention of academicians who are publishing widely on the topic. While there is still some "devil's advocate" dialogue about COPPS (see Chapter 11), this fourth edition assumes that COPPS has "arrived" and applies this strategy to the real world with its thorough presentation of problems and solutions.