History of American Policing
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Questions and Answers

What led to the formation of publicly funded police departments in Colonial America?

  • The inefficiency of night watch groups
  • The passing of the Metropolitan Police Act
  • Increasing social unrest in the late 1700s (correct)
  • The establishment of the London Metropolitan Police
  • In what year did Sir Robert Peel introduce the Metropolitan Police Act?

  • 1840
  • 1815
  • 1829 (correct)
  • 1800
  • Which of the following principles did Peel establish for policing?

  • Police officers should not wear identifiable uniforms
  • Police officers must carry firearms
  • Police departments should be privately funded
  • Police officers must be under the control of the government (correct)
  • What is a common nickname used for members of the London Metropolitan Police Department?

    <p>Bobbies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why were the night watch groups in Colonial America considered ineffective?

    <p>Members often socialized or slept on duty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Sir Robert Peel's principles, what were police officers NOT allowed to carry?

    <p>Firearms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the duties of sheriffs in colonial America?

    <p>Collecting taxes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What system was used in England for citizen policing in early history?

    <p>The kin police system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did the citizen volunteer watch system exist in Colonial America?

    <p>Until the mid-19th century</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common issue with early policing in both England and Colonial America?

    <p>Disorganized and sporadic patrols</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the kin police system in England?

    <p>Watching out for relatives or kin</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why was sheriff law enforcement not a top priority in colonial America?

    <p>They were more focused on tax collection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which system replaced individual citizen volunteers for policing in England?

    <p>Frankpledge system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What changes have allowed American police agencies to evolve over time?

    <p>Advanced technology and problem-solving strategies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which immigrant groups significantly increased the US population and social unrest?

    <p>Germans and Italians</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the primary duties of the slave patrols?

    <p>Searching slave lodges, keeping slaves off roadways, disassembling slave meetings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which state did the first publicly funded policing agencies, known as slave patrols, emerge?

    <p>South Carolina</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which department is considered one of the first modern police departments established in 1845?

    <p>New York City Police Department</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic of newly created police agencies involves the power of the police being defined by law?

    <p>Limited Police Authority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which major city unified its police department in 1845?

    <p>New York City</p> Signup and view all the answers

    After which major event did slave patrols continue to operate?

    <p>The Civil War</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the brutal function of the 'paddyrollers'?

    <p>Controlling the slave population</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The History of Policing in the United States

    The Beginning of American Policing: The English Influence

    • American policing has been heavily influenced by the English system throughout history.
    • In the early stages of development, citizens were responsible for law enforcement in their communities, known as kin police in England and watch groups in Colonial America.
    • Watch groups provided social services, but their involvement in crime control activities was minimal.

    Policing in Colonial America

    • Night watch groups in Colonial America were largely ineffective, inefficient, and often socialized or slept on duty.
    • The increasing social unrest of the late 1700s led to the formation of publicly funded police departments.

    Sir Robert Peel and the London Metropolitan Police

    • Sir Robert Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Act in 1829, leading to the formation of the London Metropolitan Police, considered the first modern police department.
    • Peel is known as the father of modern policing due to his impact on the department and the basic principles he established for policing.
    • Members of the London Metropolitan Police Department are often called bobbies or peelers, in honor of Sir Robert Peel.

    Principles of Policing

    • Peel believed police must be under the control of the government with a central headquarters, accessible to the public.
    • He prioritized the quality of police officers and ensured their competency.
    • Officers were expected to remain calm, uphold discipline, and wear appropriate uniforms with clearly identifiable numbers.
    • Although not allowed to carry firearms, police officers received proper training to be effective at their jobs.

    Policing in America

    • As the population grew in the 1700s, a more formal policing system began to emerge.

    The Origins of Policing

    • Immigrant groups moving into the US from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Scandinavian countries significantly increased the population and social unrest.
    • A more formal policing system began to emerge as these groups could no longer control the social climate.

    Slave Patrols and Their Role

    • The first publicly funded policing agencies in the US were slave patrols that emerged in South Carolina in the early 1700s.
    • Slave patrols were meant to control the slave population and had three primary duties: searching slave lodges, keeping slaves off roadways, and disassembling meetings organized by groups of slaves.
    • Slave patrols were known for their brutality and ruthlessness.

    The Emergence of Modern Police Departments

    • Slave patrols remained even after the Civil War and slavery ended, eventually resembling and operating more like modern-day police departments.
    • Others believe that the unification of police departments in major cities, starting in the early to mid-1800s, is where modern policing began.
    • Examples include the New York City Police Department (1845), the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (1846), the Chicago Police Department (1854), and the Los Angeles Police Department (1869).

    Characteristics of Newly Created Police Departments

    • Newly created police agencies adopted three characteristics from their English counterparts:
      • Limited Police Authority: The power of the police is defined by law.
      • Local Control: The local government is responsible for providing police services.
      • Fragmented Law Enforcement Authority: Several agencies, within a defined area, are responsible for providing police services.
    • These characteristics are still present in modern American police agencies.

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    Description

    Explore the history of policing in the United States, from its English roots to the early stages of community-based law enforcement.

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