Zero Tolerance Policing Essay

Words: 627
Pages: 3

Ora-Anna Brown
CRIJ 4384 .03
“In a Zero Tolerance Policing strategy, is the reliance on formal control mechanisms totally at odds with the philosophy of community policing?” Zero Tolerance Policing involves the police strictly enforcing every facet of law, including paying particular attention to littering, begging, graffiti and other forms of antisocial behavior. It also gives the police less freedom to use discretion on certain situations, and the police are required to hand out strict penalties for criminal activity. While community policing involves the police using their discretion on some minor crime. Although there is an increase in the number of police patrolling the area and longer visits to the community, it does not necessarily mean crime will decrease. But the frequent visits made by police in the area will help make the people in the community feel safer.
I think that Zero tolerance style of policing is totally different than the philosophy and practice of community policing. Community policing depends on strong support from the public, discretion from police officers, proactive policing, and problem solving. Whereas Zero Tolerance Policing is the opposite depending on officers to not use discretion, and is
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No one in their community wants to talk to them or be involved with them because they aren’t relatable, and there is a possibility that the police have arrested their relative or friend. That approach does nothing for future generations that will be taught that police are mean, bad or someone not to call. The cycle of negative feelings toward police will continue under the use of Zero Tolerance not because the police are bad people, but that the policy isn’t the best and needs to be