Literature Review: Community Policing

Cordner's (2014) work in "The Oxford Handbook of Police and Policing" provides a foundational understanding of community policing. He defines community policing as a philosophy and practice that encourages proactive community engagement to address the causes of crime and societal issues. Cordner emphasizes the importance of resources in implementing community policing strategies effectively. He argues that adequate funding, personnel, and training are crucial for the success of community policing initiatives. This aligns with the thesis by showing how resource constraints can hinder the ability of law enforcement agencies to engage effectively in community policing practices. Cordner's analysis is particularly relevant to the research question as it supports the relationship between resource availability and the efficacy of community policing.

Dubal's (2012) article provides a critical perspective on the challenges faced by community policing in the post-9/11 era, particularly focusing on the impact of federal surveillance programs. This source is valuable for understanding the external factors that contribute to resource constraints in local law enforcement. Dubal argues that the shift towards federal surveillance and counterterrorism efforts post-9/11 has led to a reallocation of resources, which in turn has negatively impacted community policing initiatives. This perspective supports the thesis by demonstrating how changes in national priorities and funding can undermine local community policing efforts, leading to reduced public trust and compromised community safety.

Greene's (2000) comprehensive analysis of community policing in America discusses the evolution of policing strategies and the role of community policing in this transformation. He highlights the "plasticity" of the concept of community policing, noting that its implementation varies widely across different contexts. This variability, according to Greene, is partly due to the differing levels of resources allocated to community policing initiatives. His work supports the thesis by showing that inconsistent resource allocation leads to varied interpretations and implementations of community policing, which can affect public trust and community safety. Greene's insights are particularly relevant to this research as they provide a broader context for understanding how resource constraints can impact the nature and effectiveness of community policing.

These three sources collectively support the thesis that resource constraints significantly impede the ability of law enforcement agencies to implement effective community policing strategies. Cordner provides a foundational understanding of the resource needs for effective community policing, Dubal offers insight into how external factors like federal priorities can impact resource allocation, and Greene discusses the variability in community policing practices...…by showing how broader political and security priorities can divert resources away from local community policing, affecting its efficacy.

Public Support and Perception

Skogan and Hartnett (2019) contribute to the thesis by discussing the role of public support as a critical resource. They argue that the lack of public support can be a significant constraint, impacting the effectiveness of community policing. This aligns with the thesis by suggesting that resource constraints are not only financial but also encompass public trust and collaboration.

Potential challenges to the thesis include these issues:

Plasticity of Community Policing

Greene (2000) acknowledges the impact of resource constraints, but he also points out the inherent "plasticity" of community policing its meaning and implementation vary greatly across different contexts. This variability suggests that the relationship between resource constraints and the effectiveness of community policing might not be straightforward or uniform across all cases.

Conflicting Values and Prioritization

Thacher (2001) also offers a perspective that could potentially negate or complicate the thesis. He discusses how conflicting values in community policing, exacerbated by resource constraints, can lead to prioritization dilemmas. This implies that the challenges in implementing community policing might not solely be a matter of resources but also of how these resources are allocated…