recruitment

(p. 123) The process by which law enforcement agencies develop a pool of qualified applicants from which to select new members.

probationary period

(p. 124) A period of time at the beginning of a police officer’s career during which he or she may be fired without cause

field training

(p. 125) The segment of a police recruit’s training in which he or she is removed from the classroom and placed under the supervision of a senior officer

bureaucracy

(p. 127) A hierarchically structured administrative organization that carries out specific functions.

delegation of authority

(p. 128) The process by which authority is distributed downward in an organization

sworn officer

(p. 129) A law enforcement agent who has been authorized to make arrests and use force, including deadly force, against civilians.

detective

(p. 131) The primary police investigator of crimes.

confidential informant (CI)

(p. 132) A human source for police who provides information concerning illegal activity in which he or she is involved.

clearance rate

(p. 133) A comparison of the number of crimes cleared by arrest and prosecution with the number of crimes reported during any given time period.

cold case

 (p. 133)  A criminal investigation that has not been solved after a certain amount of time.

forensics

(p. 133) The application of science and technology to establish facts and evidence during the investigation of crimes

trace evidence

(p. 133)  Evidence such as fingerprints, blood, or hair found in small amounts at a crime scene

ballistics

(p. 135)  The study of firearms, including the firing of the weapon and the flight of the bullet.

DNA fingerprinting

(p. 135) The identification of a person based on a sample of his or her DNA, which is the genetic material found in the cells of all living things.

cold hit

(p. 136) The establishment of a connection between a suspect and a crime, often through the use of DNA evidence, in the absence of an ongoing criminal investigation.

incident-driven policing

 (p. 137) A reactive approach to policing that emphasizes a speedy response to calls for service.

response time

(p. 137) The rapidity with which calls for service are answered; used as a measurement of police efficiency. 

general patrol

(p. 138) A patrol strategy in which police officers monitor a certain area with the goal of detecting crimes in progress or preventing crime due to their presence. 

directed patrol

(p. 138) A patrol strategy in which police officers focus on a specific type of criminal activity at a specific time.

hot spot

(p. 139) A concentrated area of high criminal activity that draws a directed police response

reactive arrest

(p. 139) An arrest that comes about as part of the ordinary routine of police patrols and responses to calls for service.

proactive arrest

 (p. 139) An arrest that occurs because of concerted efforts by law enforcement agencies to respond to a particular type of criminal or criminal behavior.

broken windows theory

(p. 140) Wilson and Kelling’s theory by cracking down on quality-of-life crimes, police can significantly reduce all crime in an area

community policing

 (p. 140) A policing philosophy that emphasizes community support for and cooperation with the police in preventing crime

problem-oriented policing

(p. 141) A policing philosophy that requires police to identify potential criminal activity and develop strategies to prevent or respond to that activity.

police subculture

(p. 143) The values and perceptions that are shared by members of a police department and, to a certain extent, by all law enforcement agents.

socialization

(p. 144) The process through which a person learns the values and behavior that a specific culture or subculture expects of its members

blue curtain

(p. 144) A metaphorical term used to refer to the value placed on secrecy and the general mistrust of the outside world shared by many police officers.

police cynicism

(p. 144) The negative attitude toward civilians and the law of civil society developed by some police officers. 

reasonable force

(p. 146) The degree of force that is appropriate to protect the police officer or other citizens and is not excessive

deadly force

(p. 146) Force applied by a police officer that is likely or intended to cause death

police corruption

(p. 148) The abuse of authority by a law enforcement officer for personal gain.

internal affairs unit (IAU)

(p. 150) A division of a police department that receives and investigates complaints of wrongdoing by police officers

citizen oversight

(p. 150) The process by which citizens review complaints brought against individual police officers or police departments. 

ethics

(p.150) The rules or standards of behavior governing a profession; aimed at ensuring the fairness and rightness of actions.

duty

(p. 151) The obligation to act in a certain manner.