The Police and Society: Touchstone Readings [Paperback]

Victor E. Kappeler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 5, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1577664175 | ISBN-13: 978-1577664178 | Edition: 3

The articles in this collection reveal fundamental assumptions about the relationship of the police to society. Articles were selected for both their complementary and their competing natures. They serve as touchstones for one another, measuring and questioning the value of previous conceptions about how policing fits into the broader social context. Many of the articles challenge the methods by which information was acquired, how practices evolved from that information, and the background assumptions that drove the construction of practices and theories. The editor s purpose in assembling this provocative volume is to facilitate systematic inquiry to help readers discover connections, to detect mutual influence, and to trace divergences of opinion. Some of the issues raised include: What is the function of the police? What does the public expect of the police institution? How many publics are there? Who benefits from police service? How are public safety and social order secured while maintaining individual rights and freedoms? To what extent do our assumptions about the police and society reflect our values and demands? To what extent do the police generate expectations? Is policing at a critical crossroads? If we analyze the recurring, central themes in policing as informed participants, perhaps our constructions and perceptions will better reflect the dynamic interrelationships between the police and society and the efficacy of those relationships for the future. Not-for-sale instructor resource material available to college and university faculty only; contact publisher directly.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Title of related interest from Waveland Press: Dunham-Alpert, Critical Issues in Policing: Contemporary Readings, Sixth Edition (ISBN 9781577666226).

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Waveland Pr Inc; 3 edition (January 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577664175
• ISBN-13: 978-1577664178
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Victor E. Kappeler is Foundation Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice in the College of Justice and Safety at Eastern Kentucky University. He received his Ph.D. from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas. He is the author of numerous books on policing and criminology including, Forces of Deviance, Constructing Crime, Police and Society, Critical Issues in Police Civil Liability, Community Policing, and The Mythology of Crime and Criminal Justice. He is widely published in academic and scientific journals among them are Social Problems, Justice Quarterly, Journal of Criminal Justice, and Criminal Law Bulletin. Dr. Kappeler has received numerous awards by both academic institutions and governmental agencies for his contributions to criminal justice.