The Reinvention of Policing: Crime Prevention, Community, and Public Safety

Contemporary policing is in crisis and needs reform. Proposed solutions often focus on piecemeal changes that ignore the fundamental problem of policing: a largely reactive approach that does not focus on crime prevention. Kelly and Mears argue for a better strategy that places responsibility on the police and other agencies to prevent crime. The book calls for reforms to existing practices and a reinvention of the design and focus of policing to create an impact in reducing crime and improving justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 300 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Contemporary policing faces a critical crisis, fueling ongoing demands for reform. However, most proposed solutions narrowly focus on piecemeal adjustments while disregarding a fundamental issue: policing predominantly employs a reactive approach that fails to effectively address crime prevention in a systematic or comprehensive manner. The majority of police activities, such as responding to 911 calls for service and implementing directed patrols or hot spots policing, fall short of addressing the root causes of crime. This problem is further compounded by the absence of any institution or agency responsible for prioritizing crime prevention and ensuring that police efforts align with this goal.

In their insightful book "The Reinvention of Policing," Kelly and Mears propose a transformative strategy that shifts responsibility for crime prevention to the police, along with other governmental and non-governmental agencies and organizations. This approach recognizes the need for a comprehensive and proactive approach to crime prevention, which historically has been lacking in policing. One reason for the lack of success in crime prevention is the flawed vision of policing, which prioritized surveillance over efforts to address the diverse causes of crime. Consequently, contemporary policing lacks an institutionalized commitment or systematic approach to crime prevention, rendering it inherently designed to fail.

The Reinvention of Policing diagnoses this problem and presents a comprehensive set of solutions. Firstly, the authors advocate for numerous reforms to existing practices within policing. Secondly, they call for a reinvention of the design and focus of policing, accompanied by a reevaluation of how states, cities, and towns approach public safety. This change presents unique challenges, but it is the only way to achieve a significant reduction in crime and an improvement in justice.

By adopting a proactive and comprehensive approach to crime prevention, contemporary policing can overcome its current crisis and become a more effective force for building safer communities. It is essential to recognize that crime prevention is not solely the responsibility of the police but requires a collaborative effort involving all stakeholders. By working together, governments, non-governmental organizations, and community groups can create a safer and more just society for all.

Weight: 603g
Dimension: 237 x 158 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538179192