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Among the primary functions of a civilized society is the protection of its members from criminal victimization. While this is fundamental, a broader notion of justice to victims is equally fundamental in such a society. The Criminal Justice apparatus is made up of several agencies and actors who all, to one degree or another, work to find those guilty and punish them. But the process used to do that must also be just in the victims’ eyes in order for confidence in the system to be achieved. This course examines the philosophies underpinning victims’ rights, what has and has not been promulgated and done to achieve victims’ satisfaction, and to explore the moral and ethical issues involved.
This course outlines the most crucial and fundamental issues relevant to contemporary police practice in the American experience. Course commences with an historical overview of police, its evolution and changing mission over the life of the nation and how policing deals with the challenges of crime, social disorder and social problems. Other topics include the impact of police culture has upon police perception and operational command, efforts to integrate the police role into community life and how critical public support and cooperation is to a successful police command.