1 Book Cover Here Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Chapter 3 The Changing Meaning of Community Community Policing A Contemporary Perspective, 5 th Edition

2 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. The Importance of Definitions There are many misunderstandings as to what community policing is and is not Jargon can cause confusion Confusion continues when terms are similar but they are defined differently

3 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. The Term Community The definition of community has evolved over time to accommodate a changing society Historically, sense of community was based on interest and geography In modern societies technology, economy, and communication have altered the nature of communities

4 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Fessler (1967) - any area in which people with a common culture share common interests Community does not always refer to an area, location or neighborhood Community can be a group of people drawn together by common interests Religious community Community of scholars

5 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Ferdinand Tonnies Gemeinschaft – Local community Gesellschaft – Larger society Community relationships defined by intimacy and durability. Also rational, calculated, contractual, and based on merit and achievement. Kin relations determined by status, power, and behavior Location, social interaction, and economics interact and create a feeling of community

6 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Robert E. Park (Chicago School) What Means Community Group of people living in a specific geographic area and conditioned by the sub cultural or life processes of competition, cooperation, assimilation, and conflict.

7 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community 1930’s legal focus of community Definite legal boundaries Economic activities Politically self governing unit

8 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community 1950’s you have 94 different definitions The term community began to become synonymous with neighborhood A community/neighborhood is a subset of a larger unit Keller (1982) Historical and social traditions make people view an area as a distinctive unit.

9 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Definitions of Community Geographic area where people live and/or work Economic, political, and social interactions occur regularly Legal entity or unit of governance Network of social interactions Shared culture

10 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Definitions of Community Moral dimension Social interactions shape character Inclusion and exclusion Shared sentiment and sense of belonging

11 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Changing Community American society has changed over decades Various immigrants arriving and leaving communities Movement of native population has changed communities Movement of African Americans from southern to northern states

12 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Changing Community Changing business activities (Wal-mart or McDonalds) versus local business Migration of population in search of employment Movement from rustbelt to southern and western states

13 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Technology & Communities Communities cross geographic boundaries Community of interests do not have geographic limits Automobile Telephone Internet

14 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Technology and Multinational corporations have eroded communities Communication via cell phone versus walking to see a neighbor Easier to associate with people with similar interests, class, and educational level Easier for community of deviants to interact via the internet

15 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Commercials can influence a community Commercials can change cultural sentiments Commercials imply social relations can be replaced with technology Mass transportation and mass communication has transformed the community

16 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Three tiered hierarchy of community based on class Underclass – inner city neighborhoods. Have lost social fabric, meeting halls, industry, businesses, shops, schools, churches. Working Class – wider range of options. May or may not show active signs of community life. Upper Class – Can afford security. Sense of community based on wealth

17 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community A lack of cohesion in the community will allow people to exploit it A lack of cohesion will also isolate and trap indiviuduls

18 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. How to Build a Sense of Community Revive idea that you can improve the quality of community Understanding mutual interests Understand mutual geography Community policing uses fear of crime as a tool to improve the quality of community life

19 Chapter 3 Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights Reserved. Community Policing Can Bring neighborhood people together Make communities safer & more attractive Give people power to set police agenda Humanize all interactions with people Encourage participation by everyone Reduce fear of crime Try to reach the underclass Improve race relations