Chapter 6 Knowledge Check

Chapter 6

Quiz yourself using the following chapter review questions to check how well you can recall the material.

Review Questions

1. How did the transition from slave patrols to post-Civil War policing reflect continuity in the racial oppression of Black Americans?
   1. The transition from slave patrols to police departments represented a complete shift in the treatment of Black Americans, with policing becoming more focused on protecting their rights and freedoms.
   2. After the Civil War, former slave patrol members became police officers and enforced Black codes, maintaining a racial hierarchy and continuing the oppressive systems of the prewar South.
   3. The end of slavery meant that police forces were established to serve all citizens equally, including formerly enslaved people, without perpetuating racial inequality.
   4. The slave patrols were abolished after the Civil War, and the creation of new police forces had no connection to the historical context of slavery or racial control.
2. Sir Robert Peel’s vision for the London Police emphasized _________ as a key focus of law enforcement, rather than simply apprehending criminals.
3. True or false: During the Political Era of American policing, the primary factor that propelled changes in policing styles was the close relationship between police officers and local politicians.
4. What were the primary roles and expectations of police officers during the Political Era of American policing (1840s–early 1900s)?
   1. ​​Enforcing laws impartially and independently from political influence.
   2. Resisting political corruption and advocating for institutional reforms.
   3. Upholding social order, providing social services, maintaining loyalty to political leaders, and engaging in crime control.
   4. Focusing primarily on crime prevention through proactive patrol strategies.
5. True or false: During the Political Era, police officers engaged in foot patrol, rudimentary investigations, and maintained close personal relationships with local politicians and citizens, which enhanced community ties but also contributed to issues such as corruption and political influence over law enforcement.
6. August Vollmer was instrumental in standardizing police practices by advocating for the development of the ________ systems, which allowed law enforcement agencies to analyze crime trends and allocate resources more effectively.
7. Which major issue was highlighted by the Wickersham Commission’s Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement?
   1. The need for harsher punishment for criminal offenders.
   2. The prevalence of illegal and unethical practices within law enforcement agencies.
   3. The introduction of nationwide standardized police uniforms.
   4. The criminalization of political dissent and civil rights movements.
8. What specific aspect of law enforcement did the Kefauver Committee investigate during its hearings on organized crime in the early 1950s?
   1. The FBI’s failure to prosecute organized crime leaders.
   2. The infiltration of organized crime syndicates into interstate commerce.
   3. Corruption within law enforcement agencies due to organized crime syndicates.
   4. The legalization of gambling in major cities controlled by organized crime.
9. True or false: By the early 1960s, police were widely associated with racism, inequality, and social injustice due to frequent incidents of police brutality, particularly against Black Americans.
10. The FBI, in collaboration with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), adopted the ________ program in 1930 to centralize and standardize crime data submitted by police departments.
11. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the policing reforms during the Reform Era?
    1. Professionalization of law enforcement through civil service hiring procedures
    2. Integration of technology, such as automobiles and two-way radios, to improve communication
    3. Decreased reliance on scientific methods in investigations
    4. Standardization of police procedures to reduce corruption
12. True or false: Toward the end of the reform era, the administrative changes that isolated police from political influence also improved community relations by maintaining the police officer’s visibility and personal connection with neighborhoods.
13. Which of the following was a key feature of the community policing era that began in the late 1970s?
    1. A focus on increasing the use of force to combat crime
    2. A reliance on quantitative crime statistics as the primary measure of success
    3. A shift towards decentralized policing and increased community involvement
    4. A decrease in recruitment of minority and female officers
14. One of the challenges of community policing in the 1980s was its ambiguous definition, leading to varying interpretations. While some agencies implemented community policing through foot patrols and public engagement, others adopted a stricter approach known as ____________, which focused on aggressively policing minor offenses and led to disproportionate stops of minority individuals.
15. True or false: The community policing era marked a shift from traditional, reactive policing to a proactive, community-centered approach, emphasizing collaboration, problem-solving, and public engagement. However, the era was also hindered by challenges such as inconsistent implementation, resistance to change, and the unintended consequences of policies like zero-tolerance policing.

Answer Key

1. After the Civil War, former slave patrol members became police officers and enforced Black codes, maintaining a racial hierarchy and continuing the oppressive systems of the prewar South.
2. Crime prevention. Peel’s approach emphasized crime prevention and deterrence as central to the police’s role in society.
3. True. The close relationship between police officers and local politicians during the Political Era significantly influenced the direction of policing, often resulting in corruption and inefficiency within law enforcement.
4. Upholding social order, providing social services, maintaining loyalty to political leaders, and engaging in crime control. Police officers were expected to uphold social order, perform various social service tasks, maintain loyalty to politicians, and engage in crime control—though often in a way that served political interests rather than the public good.
5. True. Policing during the Political Era was characterized by foot patrol, basic investigative methods, and strong ties to both the community and political leaders, which fostered public trust but also led to corruption and political control over law enforcement.
6. Uniform crime reporting. August Vollmer’s advocacy for the development of uniform crime reporting systems played a crucial role in standardizing police practices, allowing for more effective resource allocation and data-driven decision-making.
7. The prevalence of illegal and unethical practices within law enforcement agencies. The Wickersham Commission’s Report on Lawlessness in Law Enforcement highlighted the widespread illegal and unethical practices within law enforcement agencies, such as the use of threats, physical torture, and denial of legal counsel. These findings were crucial in shaping future discussions on criminal justice reform.
8. Corruption within law enforcement agencies due to organized crime syndicates. The Kefauver Committee’s hearings highlighted how organized crime syndicates had infiltrated law enforcement agencies, contributing to corruption. This exposure played a crucial role in shifting public and governmental focus to combat organized crime more effectively.
9. True. The early 1960s marked a period where police were increasingly viewed as symbols of racism and inequality, largely due to incidents of police brutality and unjust treatment of Black Americans, which contributed to growing public unrest and protests.
10. Uniform Crime Report/UCR. The FBI, along with the IACP and NSA, launched the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) program in 1930, which standardized the crime data submitted by police departments across the country. This program played a crucial role in understanding criminal behavior until it was replaced by NIBRS in 2021.
11. Decreased reliance on scientific methods in investigations. During the Reform Era, law enforcement increased its use of scientific methods like fingerprinting, lie detectors, and crime laboratories. This era saw improvements in policing effectiveness, making scientific methods an integral part of investigations.
12. False. The isolation of police departments from political influence unintentionally led to a loss of connection with local communities. The integration of automobiles eliminated the traditional foot patrols, which made officers less visible and less connected to the neighborhoods they served, contributing to eroded community relations.
13. A shift towards decentralized policing and increased community involvement. The community policing era emphasized collaboration with community members, decentralization of police departments, and greater involvement in addressing local concerns. This shift aimed to foster trust and cooperation between law enforcement and the communities they served.
14. Zero-tolerance policing. Zero-tolerance policing was a strict approach that emphasized aggressively policing minor offenses, often leading to disproportionate stops of minority individuals.
15. True. The community policing era introduced proactive strategies and emphasized collaboration, but challenges such as inconsistent implementation and the impact of zero-tolerance policies limited its overall success.