4: Policing
Image description: New Orleans Police Department SUV patrol unit parked on side of street in New Orleans, Louisiana
Image credit: Photo of New Orleans Police Department SUV patrol unit by Pamela Simek, 2023 / License: Public Domain
Learning Objectives
In this section, you will be introduced to the history of policing in the United States. Today, policing is under the microscope to ensure past mistakes are not repeated and forward momentum is reached. It is for this reason this section will explore the history, as well as the foundations, that the American policing system was built upon. At the end of this section, students will be able to:
- Explain the history of policing as it relates to current policing
- List the different parts of the history of policing
- Recall the different eras of policing and identify the important parts of each era
- Define and understand patterns of police corruption
- Critically assess law enforcement recruitment strategies and training requirements
- Identify the laws and court rulings surrounding police use of violence
