This book provides broad exposure to a variety of policing reforms that have not received adequate attention. It includes information and examples from different countries regarding efforts to change aspects of policing that are problematic or involve changes in the way crimes are committed. Some of the efforts to improve the police are relatively recent (i.e., using social media) and some areas of policing that seem to require frequent attention (i.e., working with the public).

The increased militarization of the police in the United States has been a topic of controversy for decades, brought to the public eye in notable events such as the Los Angeles Police Department's use of battering rams in the 1980s and the siege of the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in the 1990s, among others. The issue of police militarism has been back at the forefront of criminal justice policy discussions in the wake of the militaristic police response to the protests that took place after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. This book examines the issue of militarization in a post-Ferguson environment from the perspective of those inside policing. Drawing from a variety of data-including historical analysis of newspaper articles to examine the use of firearms in policing; original data from police respondents attending the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; interviews with police chiefs and tactical officers regarding their direct experiences; and a sample of National Academy attendees reporting on the deployment of patrol rifles in policing-this work provides a nuanced look at police militarization that will inform future conceptual discussions and empirical research into the phenomenon. Considerations identified for police policy-makers include politics, media, leadership, and marketing. These themes are explored in detail, suggesting multiple dimensions, both theoretical and empirical, to better understand policing and policy, making this book an excellent resource for students, scholars, and professionals in law enforcement, political science, and public administration.

The increased militarization of the police in the United States has been a topic of controversy for decades, brought to the public eye in notable events such as the Los Angeles Police Department's use of battering rams in the 1980s and the siege of the Weaver family at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in the 1990s, among others. The issue of police militarism has been back at the forefront of criminal justice policy discussions in the wake of the militaristic police response to the protests that took place after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. This book examines the issue of militarization in a post-Ferguson environment from the perspective of those inside policing. Drawing from a variety of data-including historical analysis of newspaper articles to examine the use of firearms in policing; original data from police respondents attending the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; interviews with police chiefs and tactical officers regarding their direct experiences; and a sample of National Academy attendees reporting on the deployment of patrol rifles in policing-this work provides a nuanced look at police militarization that will inform future conceptual discussions and empirical research into the phenomenon. Considerations identified for police policy-makers include politics, media, leadership, and marketing. These themes are explored in detail, suggesting multiple dimensions, both theoretical and empirical, to better understand policing and policy, making this book an excellent resource for students, scholars, and professionals in law enforcement, political science, and public administration.

For more than twenty years state legislation and police department policies have moved toward a pro-arrest position in domestic violence incidents. It can be reasonably expected that police officers possess a pro-enforcement orientation in these cases. This research examined the relationship between situational variables that occur in a domestic violence incident and an officer's arrest and charging decision. Situational variable were incorporated into domestic violence vignettes and officers from one large police department completed surveys. More than 80% of the officers are likely or very likely to arrest in all vignettes. Victim injury or the presence of an order of protection was significantly related to an officer's reported arrest behavior. Furthermore, this study goes beyond the arrest decision and examined the criminal charges an officer would file if they made an arrest. The charging decision appears to be related to some situational variables. Police experience may be related to the number of criminal charges that are listed as well as the level of the criminal charge (i.e., misdemeanor or felony). Still, there appear to be instances of "under-charging" for criminal behavior. This book can help researchers expand their methods for studying police officers and help policy makers understand the different decision-points in the implementation process.

This book provides broad exposure to a variety of policing reforms that have not received adequate attention. It includes information and examples from different countries regarding efforts to change aspects of policing that are problematic or involve changes in the way crimes are committed. Some of the efforts to improve the police are relatively recent (i.e., using social media) and some areas of policing that seem to require frequent attention (i.e., working with the public).