Police encounters with juveniles revisited

Abstract

Examines the extent to which community‐oriented police officers (COP) differ from regular patrol officers in their view of their role in the response to juveniles and in style and intensity of interaction. Based on qualitative field research in a densely populated Southeastern city, initial findings suggest that while COPs devote equal attention to traditional police functions (e.g. law enforcement), they adopt different styles of carrying out these functions (e.g. proactive problem solving). In addition, COP officers more routinely practice juvenile crime prevention, monitoring and diversion and clearly articulate these functions as core components of their role orientation. Questions for future research include the extent to which the new more intimate relationship between police and juveniles in COP areas will increase arrests or promote diversion, whether increased discretion will result in increased harassment or improved informal dispute resolution, and whether officers practicing effective diversion and advocacy will be encouraged to continue or see their efforts undercut by competing departmental priorities or by bureaucratic policies that increase formal processing.