Law Enforcement Guidebook for Responding to Racial and Religious Violence

• NCJ Number: 102420
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 50 pages
• Grant Number(s): 83-IJ-CX-K045
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Instructional Material

Annotation

This manual guides police in preparing for and responding to violent incidents directed toward specific racial and religious minorities.

Abstract

The proposed model of police response to such incidents is a composite of the responses of agencies surveyed in this project. The model delineates the role and responsibilities of the police chief and the duties of patrol officers, patrol supervisors, the district/station commander, the investigative unit, the community relations or crime prevention unit, the intelligence division, and the training division. These responsibilities are distinguished for large and small police agencies. The model also includes a sample policy statement. Major sections of the manual cover characteristics of model policies and procedures, training, reporting, investigation, victim assistance, interagency cooperation, and police-community cooperation. Recommendations are also offered for special units, legislation, and prevention. The Massachusetts civil rights law is presented as an example of legislation for addressing racially and religiously motivated violence. Illustrative agency responses to such incidents are those of the Boston Police Department (Massachusetts) and the Baltimore County Police Department (Maryland). A flowchart demonstrates the formulation and execution of law enforcement policy. 19 resource contacts.