CJ 205 Module Five Practice Activity Template
History of Policing in America
To complete this template, replace the bracketed text with the relevant information.
Describe major policing events or evolutions in American policing during each era. Write three or more sentences in each cell where a response is required.
American Policing:
The Colonial Experience
American Policing:
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
American Policing:
Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
The North: The Watch
During the seventeenth century the northern
colonies began The Watch. They were at risk for
foreign colonies invading them, so self-defense was
their only option. The Sherriff was their most
important law figure followed by the town marshal
in each city.
The Urban Experience
Heavy crime and street riots were very
common during this time in New York City and
the law enforcement available to them were
unable to handle this. During this time the
population increased by over 300,000 people,
many of which were immigrants. Because
these people were experiencing extreme
poverty, crime increased drastically.
Policing from 1900 to 1960
Attempts at police reform began during this time.
Many organized crimes began during this time as the
crime rate continued to rise. The FBI or Federal
Bureau of Investigation was also created during this
time.
The South: Slave Patrols and Codes
In the 1700’s Slave Patrols were established in The
South to capture runaway slaves and enforce slave
laws and control. There was little to no law and
order in The South so citizens often took matters
into their own hands and thus vigilantism and
lynching became the norm. Slave Codes were
enforced by the whites in order to maintain control
and support the use of slavery.
The Southern Experience
During this time the Slave Patrol was the
largest in the nation. This pushed racial
segregation equaling more crime. The
Savannah Police Department was developed
during this time and had 86 police officers on
staff.
Policing in the 1960s and 1970s
The Community Era began during this time. During
this time the focus was on police departments giving
back to their communities as well as patrolling and
policing only in their own communities. Partnerships
between the public and the police force began to
grow and police departments began using the
public’s help in solving crimes.
No response required The Frontier Experience Policing in the 1980s and 1990s
American Policing:
The Colonial Experience
American Policing:
Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries
American Policing:
Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
Formal law enforcement was rare however
they did have access to locally elected officials
such as the county sheriff and the town
marshal. There were many hardships such as
invasion of Native Americans and high crime
rates. Often times they did need reinforcement
from the military or the militia.
Between the 1960’s and this time the crime rate was
astronomical and continuing to rise. Police
departments struggled to keep up with the growing
crime rates. The war on drugs was worsening by the
day as well as organized crime.
No response required No response required Policing in the 2000s
Tensions between the public and police departments
are continuing to rise by the day. The evolution of
technology and the availability of body cameras
contribute to the public tension against police
departments. The Black Lives Matter movement
began during this time following an increase in police
brutality in black communities and the availability of
body cam footage.
References
Dempsey, J. (2018-01-01). An Introduction to Policing, 9th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf 10.3.2]. Retrieved from vbk://9781337671293
