Volunteer Police in the United States : Programs, Challenges, and Legal Aspects

​This work examines in-depth the phenomenon of volunteer policing in the United States. Due to a combination of municipal budget cuts, decreased manpower, and a renewed interest in community partnership, everyday citizens are increasingly joining the police rank and file. This trend provides low-cost solutions for a number of policing problems, but also brings its own special challenges and considerations. This work provides a historical overview of volunteer police in the United States and abroad; an practical overview of volunteer programs throughout the United States including training programs, requirements and qualifications; a close examination of two central types of laws governing volunteer police units: the "Stand Your Ground" law and the "Good Samaritan" law; and overview of the dangers that can face volunteer police units, and a comparative analysis with volunteer programs worldwide. It will be of interest to researchers in police studies, criminal justice administration, and for policymakers and practitioners working with police organization and training.

Elizabeth C. Bartels is an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice in the Social Sciences Department of Queensborough Community College, City University of New York. Her areas of specialization are policing, community corrections, and comparative criminal justice. Prior to teaching, she worked as an Intelligence Analyst for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Dr. Bartels received a doctorate in Criminal Justice at the City University of New York Graduate Center, an MA in Criminal Justice at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a BA in Political Science at Barnard College.