Criminology

Abstract It is necessary to describe the roles of the police in the community in order to clearly assess their responsibilities and their duties in serving the citizens. Although the primary police roles in the US are order maintenance, crime control and law enforcement, and service delivery, the community perceives the service delivery and social service as the core roles the police. The police are therefore referred to as a social servants, crime fighters, watchmen and law enforcers (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). As a social servant, the police focuses on the role of helping the community best suited to community policing and patrolling. The paper will discuss some of the police roles that are perceived to be more important in the community and will give analysis how the community views the police in general. The paper will conclude with a challenge on the future of the police in curbing crime using the ever advancing technologies and the need for extra training.

Primary Roles of the Police in the United States
Introduction
The primary police roles in the US are order maintenance, crime control, and service. In another definition, the Police Agency is a governmental department that is charged with the control and regulation of the community affairs established to enforce law, maintain order and detect and prevent crimes (Block, 2994). There has however been a recent shift from the conventional roles of the police to a community-oriented direction, which has made the roles of the police difficult to define. However, the community strongly feels that service delivery through community policing and other mechanisms are the most important role played by the police (Shane, 2007).

The basic primary roles played by the United States police involve the maintenance of law and order to protect the American citizens (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). The police promote peace that is imperative in protecting the innocent citizens from criminals thus maintaining law and order in the country. In cases where there has been violation of law, the police have the obligation of enforcing it effectively. Some of the instances of violation common in the US include robbery, murder, or burglary. The police have the capacity to search and seize any property for the purpose of obtaining evidence. After detecting of the crimes, the offenders are arrested, sentenced, incarcerated and punished as per the provisions of the law provides (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). The police have the power to go against some of the provision of the human rights human in the protection of the great majority.

Domestic violence is an increasing problem in the United States. The police are actively involved in the investigation, promotion of deterrence, and assisting the local and regional efforts in responding to the domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Reduction Unit (DVRU) is a police bureau created to reduce the level of domestic violence that rapidly increasing in the modern times that also influences the public crimes and other associated criminal activities (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). The role of the police in addressing domestic violence is very important in the United States as it aims to reduce the incidences of criminal activities. The police in the United States have an important role in enforcing various laws from the federal level, the state as well as the local community (Shane, 2007). The police agencies have a jurisdiction that is nationwide that enforces the federal law. The police agencies involve themselves in the prevention and detection of crimes or disasters that are affecting large numbers of people and even large geographical areas (Block, 1994). The police agencies are involved in the provision of mutual aid agreement. This role is important as the police have got a wider reach to the larger areas which may otherwise be seen as complex to enforce the law. Among all the roles of the police in the United States, the most important one is the fight against terrorism. In the modern America there are a number of terrorist networks that have endeavored in promoting criminal activities.

The police role is to shut down some of the networks to discourage their spread.  This is being facilitated by the many of the other governments that fail to stop the terrorist groups to extend their attacks on the US (Shane, 2007).  The military actions have been directed towards the Taliban and the al-Qaeda organizations that pose threats towards the security of the government. The threat is as a result of the spread of the radical terrorist groups in the North America which is expected to raise terrorism in US from time to time (Shane, 2007). This role is very important to the security of the country and its citizens.

The community views the police officers as individuals who will protect them from whichever threat that will arise. In rear situations, the community is thrown into doubt whether the police will protect them against all threats (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). The police are therefore perceived to be able to provide security whatever the situation. This view by the community encourages the police to advance in their knowledge and skills in order to provide the required quality of service that is anticipated by the community. Despite the great job done by the police, some of the young people may perceive the police intervention (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). Young people have the notion that breaking the law is part of the process of growing. Therefore, when the police take there course, the youths will feel that the police are preventing them from exploring the world.

In conclusion, due to the increased number of roles of the police in the United States, there has risen a need for improvement of the way the police deal with the rising demand. In order to have efficient law and order maintenance, the technological improvements should be made to enhance effective service delivery of the police in the protection of citizens (Block, 1994). Communication should be enhanced for better communication between the space and the ground in times of emergencies. The police are required to undergo thorough training to be in a position of dealing with the criminal activities that are rampant in the country and also the terrorism attacks from criminals who also have improved technologies (Orthmann,  Hess, 2008). Finally, the state agencies should be in a position of implementing and enforcing regulations that prevent criminal activities from occurring.