Criminology

The criminology essay is based on the policy of community policing and its effect on the public policy. First, the essay describes community policing looking at several aspects that make it a better policing tactic as compared to traditional policing methods. The essay further suggests that this policy was initiated by the US national assembly and has a minimal constitutional issue. Community policing will greatly change the communitys perceptions towards the law enforcers and see them as partners rather than oppressors.

Introduction
Adopting neighborhood policing is one of the major policies within the criminal justice systems affecting the public policy in the US. Neighborhood or community policing is a philosophy or strategy of policing that was founded on the concept of community support and interaction with the law enforcers which can greatly contribute in reducing fear and controlling crime. This is possible since the members of the community can assist the police in bringing various security problems to the police officers attention, detaining vandals and identifying suspects. Using community policing as a policing approach encourages organizational strategies that assist in the systematic application of problem solving and partnership techniques, in proactively addressing the instantaneous conditions that normally bring about issues of public safety such as social disorder, crime fear and crime (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

Community policing
In essence, community policing is the collaboration between the community and the police that not only identifies but also solves various community problems. Under community policing, the police officers cease to be the sole custodians of order and law, they are instead helped by all the community members who become very active partners in contributing to efforts that are aimed at enhancing and promoting safety in the neighborhoods. This policing approach which is relatively new has implications that are far reaching. The extended stance of crime prevention and control, increased emphasis on making all community members participants with an active role in the problem solving process, and the pivotal role of patrol officers in this approach of policing requires changes that are profound within the institute of law enforcers (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

Community policing increases the effectiveness of police officers since they are made to be more proactive in their duties of maintaining security in the neighborhoods. The people who bring about insecurity within the community live among the community members and are best known to the community members compared to the police officers. This therefore means that, it is the community members who are best placed in assisting police officers in identifying and arresting such people. The essence of community policing is basically to reduce the gap that existed in traditional policing approach between the police officers and community members, whereby each party perceived the other with a lot of suspicion with little trust if any between them (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

By working closely with members of the community, the police employing neighborhood policing strategy are at a better chance of protecting and detecting crimes in the neighborhoods. In this case, police are in a position of serving the community members better since they are able to prevent crimes from taking place unlike in the traditional approach where they could rush to scenes where crimes have already taken place and people have already suffered. The members of community assist the police in detecting various crimes and thus prevent such crimes from taking place and thus reducing crime rate in the neighborhoods (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

Community policing is a legislative policy that was started and greatly supported by the US parliament. The national assembly passed the necessary laws to ensure that this form of policing operate within the laws of the country. The US national assembly was greatly influenced by the need of having an effective policing in the country which would greatly incorporate all the stakeholders involved. They noted that most of the policing systems exclude the local communities who are the direct victims of criminal activities. By including the American society within the policing system, the US parliament hoped to reduce the increasing crime levels in the country as well as increasing interaction between the law enforcers and the members of the community. In this particular policy, there is a slight constitutional issue since a few amendments have to be done to ensure that the laws governing community policing are consistent with the other laws of the land (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

Community policing will have a great impact on the American communities. They will be in a position to interact more with the law enforcers and thus contribute significantly in enhancing security of their neighborhoods. Community policing will have a great impact on the attitude community members have towards the law enforcers. For a long time, Americans have perceived police officers as an oppressive class of people. With increased interaction between the police officers and the community members such attitudes are likely to change whereby the community members will start perceiving police officers as security partners and thus share with them more information concerning crimes that take place within their communities. The communities will therefore have a greater chance of becoming more secure and safer (Community Policing Consortium, n.d.).

Conclusion
Community policing policy is one of the noblest ideas that have been introduced in the criminal justice system of America in the recent years. It is meant to bridge the existing gap between the law enforcers and the community members. These two major stakeholders in crime deterrence and prevention will have a great opportunity of working together in making neighborhoods much safer and secure. It appreciates the fact that insecurity within communities cannot only be fought from one end and thus cooperation is required from all the stakeholders concerned.