Policing in America: Where Has It Been and Where Is It Going?

From its earliest days, policing in America has been surrounded with controversy and competing claims. In fact, even the origins of American policing have been subject to opposing assertions among scholars and practitioners. In addition, even concepts that are commonly recognized are subject to contrasting meanings. Modern examples include “defunding the police,’’ “broken windows policing," stop and frisk and Compstat.

This course examines themes that run throughout American policing from its earliest outset. We will also explore the economic, political and social bases of the current status of American policing and its likely development in a different political era. We will review these and other developments and their implications for the future.

NOTE: This class SKIPS over March 31st.

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Instructor: Eli Silverman

Eli Silverman, PhD, is Professor Emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center of City University of New York. He has previously served with the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Academy of Public Administration in Washington D. C. and was Visiting Exchange Professor at the Police Staff College in Bramshill, England. He has lectured, consulted with and trained numerous law enforcement agencies in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Mexico, Europe, Asia and Australia. His research and testimony was cited in 2013 Floyd et. al. City of New York on stop and frisk. His recent publications include: "The Crime Numbers Game: Management by Manipulation,", “NYPD’s Compstat: Compare Statistics or Compose Statistics?” with John A. Eterno, International Journal of Police Science and Management, NYPD Battles Crime: Innovative Strategies in Policing"; “Forcible Stops: Police and Citizens Speak Out,” with John Eterno and Christine Barrow, Public Administration Review.