Police Professionalism Essay

Professionalism refers to the skill, competence or standards expected of a member of a profession. It involves the adoption of a set of values and attitudes by members of an occupation that are conformable with a professional ideology.Professionalization is a process of legitimization an occupation goes by as it endeavors to improve its social status. The assorted characteristics of a profession overwhelm the following (Roberg and Kuykendall, 1993).A good veritable body of professional publications materials.A high degree of generalized and systematic knowledge with a theoretical base. This is achieved through research.A high degree of self condition of behavior governed by a code of ethics.The code of ethics is a statement of values ensures a high quality of serving. It also guarantees ability of membership, honor and integrity. The code is a direct expression of the professions principles of helping orientation. It emphasizes no personal gain and protection of the clie nt.Membership in professional organizations and associations.Dedication to self-improvement.Existence of a odd, identifiable academic written report of knowledge attainable through education.There is a system of interrogatory the competence of members.legal philosophy professionalism has been a focal point in the prehistorical for practice of law reformers. The ambiguity of the role of the law has however seriously hampered efforts to professionalise the police because deciding on the proper role of the police is a necessary step to outlining steps towards professionalism. Police professionalism can mean contrary things in different places and at different times making symmetry on the requirement for a professional police force un carely. Police professionalism whitethorn refer to police organizations as police officers, or both. well-nigh police administrators refer to tangible improvements such as latest technology like computers and weaponry, as signs of professionalis m. merely this is not true in annex to the characteristics of professionalism. Currently the police are struggling to meet the requirements of a profession. understandably there is a growing body of professional literature on the police. Some Journals like police studies and America journal of the police pay reports of police research. There are also penodicals and a rapid expanding depend of government reports on police that contribute more information on police ope rations and organizations. A code of ethics for the police has been developed and modified by the International Association of heads of police. Although some police may be unfamiliar with its contents, indications show that many officers know the code exists. However the code of conduct offers micro control over the police. This is because there is no professional standards committee that reviews and sanctions police for the violation of their own code. (Gaines, kappeler & Vaughn, 1999). There are a proceeds of professional policed associations especially for chief executive officers. Organizations like Fraternal Order of the police are oriented toward rank-and-file officers as well but they have typically served as organizations and collective bargain agents. In recent years there has been expansion of professional organizations among police planners, investigators and others. On dedication to self-improvement, currently there are no national borderline standards for either departments or police personnel. Many states do not take down allow training on a constant bag by and by completion of the basic training program. However among the progressive police personnel, there is an increased interest in establishing high police officer standards. A study in police has lately emerged. Many college-level academic programs in policing and criminal justice have emerged. Regardless of the quality of the programs and consensus on the topics cover in these programs, there is increasing number of officers earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in police science, law enforcement, and criminal justice programs. Regardless of these achievements however, attainment of police professionalism remains an elusive goal. Dedication to the attainment of professional standards exists among some police executives and hailly lacks among many others. Many officers resist this pursuit of professionalism on the basis that their jobs are blue collar shift works that involve little need for advanced education. This reduces dedication to self-improvement. In addition unionization of police officers sometimes inhibits progress toward professionalism. Therefore there cannot be a world-wide number that will accurately reflect the police personnel call for of all jurisdictions.There are various ways of determining the suppress number of police personnel for a given jurisdiction (Roseberg & Kuykendall, 1993). These includeIntuitively.Comparatively.By work load.The intuitive access code inv olves little more than an educated compute and is often based on tradition (personnel numbers from previous years). The approach is based on the number of wickednesss cleared or total number of arrests. These means, many administrators may demand more police officers be employ as crime rates increase. However it is noted that differences in crime rates should not be attributed to variations in the number of police. The research conducted by Bayley, 1994 found out that increases in the number of police closely replicate increase in crime rates. People tend to hire more police when crime rates increase, but this has no effect on the rate of crime increase.Comparative approach involves comparing 1 or more urban centers like cities using the ratio of police officers per one thousand population units. If the comparison city has a higher ratio of police to population, it is assumed that an increase in personnel is justified to at least the level of the comparison city (Roseberg & Kuy kendall, 1993). The exclusive use of this order to compute police personnel needs is not recommended. Communities have unique characteristics concerning areas covered, crime rates, economic strength, mile of roads and others. These have an impact on the quantity of personnel required to fulfill service requests. Workload requires a clear information system, expressed performance standards, well-elaborated community expectations and prioritization of police activities (Roberg & Kuykendall, 1993). The workload analysis of patrol usually involves various steps which include documenting total patrol workload occurring. Determining the time taken to handle the workload, translating the data into number of patrol officers required, determining the number of patrol officers needed on different days and times and how best to assign patrol officers to various areas (Cordner & Sheehan, 1999). The computation of patrol workload is complicated by the issue of undecided crime. Sometimes measu rement of police demand services can be based on work generating variable like citizen calls for police service and others. Although the workload analysis has been shown to be methodologically sound, few jurisdictions use this form. Administrators bring up the cost, complexity of the formula and extensive data collection as the limitations that lug using the workload formula.ReferencesBayley, D. (1994). Police for the future. USA Oxford University Press.Cordner, G. & Sheehan, R. (1999). Police Administration. USA Anderson Pub. Co.Gaines, L., Kappeles, V. & Vaughn, J. (1999). Policing in America. USA Anderson Pub. Co.Roberg, R., Kuykendall, L. (1993). Police and Society. USA Wadsworth Pub. Co.