Policing in Transition

• NCJ Number: 174685
• Author(s): J Travis
• Date Published: January 1998
• Length: 4 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored

Annotation

Policing is discussed in terms of the principles of democratic policing, ways in which research can help determine the true nature of policing, and the challenges that emerging crime trends pose to democratic policing.

Abstract

The document developed in the context of the Youngstown accord in relation to the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina set forth seven principles to guide the development of a new police organization in a democratic country. It stated that the police must operate in accord with the principles of democracy, should be considered as professions governed by a code of professional conduct, and must have the protection of life as their highest priority. It also stated that the police must serve the community and consider themselves accountable to the community, must recognize that protection of life and property is the primary function of police operations, must respect human dignity and basic human rights, and must not discriminate. Independent research can serve as a useful resource for assessing the progress toward democratic policing. Research projects funded by the National Institute of Justice are examining police-citizen interactions, police use of force, the implementation of community policing, and police corruption and police misconduct. Crime increases and transnational crime challenge policing today and call for even greater international information sharing regarding effective responses to crime. 6 references