The Police and Society: Touchstone Readings, Fourth Edition

The most productive route to understanding the dynamic interrelationships of the police with society is to examine the recurring, central themes in policing. The articles in this anthology represent some of the best scholarship on compelling issues. Selected for both their complementary and competing natures, the articles serve as touchstones for one another often challenging previous conceptions. Many selections question the methods by which information was acquired, the practices that evolved from that information, and the background assumptions behind the construction of practices.

Some of the many issues and conflicts addressed in this collection include: What is the nature of the police role and function? Who benefits from police service? Who is harmed? How are public safety and social order secured while maintaining individual rights and freedoms? To what extent do our expectations about the police and society reflect our values and demands? Are the police a society unto themselves? Is policing at a critical crossroads?

The editors assembled this volume with the goal of helping readers to identify underlying assumptions, to dissect how values influence inquiries, and to discover connections. A better understanding of the role of the police in society provides a solid foundation for assessing the efficacy of future police/society relationships.