Abstract
Readers of the book, Spatial Policing: The Influence of Time, Space and Geography on Law Enforcement Practices, edited by Charles E. Crawford, will be pleasantly surprised as they discover how the rich complexities of space shape neighborhood levels of crime and criminal behaviors of individuals.
Flipping through the pages of the book may lead to some initial confusion as the book does not contain any maps at all, even though the title claims to be about Spatial Policing. Many textbooks on spatial analysis of crimes have appeared in recent years largely due to the widely available applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in present-day policing. Spatial Policing is different from these GIS and crime textbooks, in that the book offers theoretical understandings of how space provides contexts for criminal behavior and clues to thoroughly examine effective problem-solving strategies. Readers wishing to learn various crime mapping techniques are well advised to seek other books.
Instead, Spatial Policing helps readers develop their critical thinking skills in assessing the importance of space in crime and other related social problems. Problem solving in spatial terms sometimes requires relatively simple solutions, such as altering a physical environment to reduce criminal opportunities, while comprehensive partnerships among the police, local businesses, and neighborhood residents are required at other times. Throughout the chapters of Spatial Policing, readers are repeatedly reminded that crime problems and policing strategies are space and context specific. Spatial Policing aids readers in developing critical thinking skills in spatial terms, which in turn will be an invaluable tool for policing in the real world and researching crimes.
In the introductory chapter “Space and Policing” (Chapter 1), the book editor Charles E. Crawford lays out basic theoretical frameworks (defensible space theory and broken windows theory) that contributors of the book base their analyses throughout the chapters. Furthermore, Crawford also illustrates how space can be a dynamic entity with varying meaning and identities depending on persons and agencies, which provide challenges in policing space. As an example of challenges for policing, the issue of the homeless is described.
In Chapter 2 “Remapping the City: Public Identity, Cultural Space, and Social Justice,” Jeff Ferrell offers a critical perspective for cultural criminology to move toward better understanding of the rich complex relationships among space, crime, and people. Space oftentimes becomes the venue of social conflicts, as people and agencies manifest varying identities at the same places. Ferrel offers a case study about gutter punks in Tempe, Arizona, and their conflicts with the city government.
Chapter 3, “Community Policing and Spatial Analysis” by Michael J. Palmiotto and Brian F. Kingshott, illustrates the history of community policing. Thoroughly based on defensible space theory and broken windows theory, controlling space is described as central to community policing. Furthermore, these authors argue that a successful community policing with the problem-oriented approach requires policing attentive to varying neighborhood needs and a close partnership with neighborhood residents.
Crawford describes the rich and complex history of policing and minorities from a critical perspective in Chapter 4, “Minorities, Space, and Policing.” From ancient times, among the powerful, policing has often been established due to fears of mob violence, protests, and civil disorder. Social and political conflicts between minorities and police are not new, as the history of policing has been closely related to social class, power, and race. While social problems of these three may be beyond what the police are expected to deal with, understanding these problems becomes crucial in solving the underlying causes of crime in spatial terms.
While most spatial studies on crime have been concerned with places, neighborhoods, and cities, Eileen Luna-Firebaugh’s chapter entitled “Which Side Are You On? A Collaborative Approach to Policing the Borders” describes unique challenges related to Tribal Law enforcement for sovereign Native American nations and the federal government around U.S. international borders. This unique problem of border control has become especially significant after the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States and the threat of further terrorist attacks.
Chapter 6 “Rural Law Enforcement: Real Police Work?” by Robert Hartmann McNamara and Lucy Clark Sanders points out that the image of rural policing is often misconstrued. Contradicting the general perception of rural policing, McNamara and Sanders describe that the types of crimes that rural police departments face are similar to urban police departments. Nonetheless, rural policing has its unique challenges, such as agricultural crimes and large areas to patrol. Furthermore, organizationally, rural police departments face serious challenges, such as limited budgets, professionalization, and training opportunities. Given that approximately 60% of U.S. police departments are rural, this chapter is a must read for understanding the reality of American policing.
As the other side of the coin, Chapter 7 “Policing Urban Spaces” by Kim Lersch introduces unique problems that urban policing faces. Urban space invites people with varying value systems and lifestyles. While community policing with the problem-oriented approach has been widely implemented across the United States, urban spatial contexts can be challenging in developing partnership for crime-reduction initiatives.
In Chapter 8 “Policing Educational Spaces: Status, Practices, and Challenges” by Kenneth J. Peak and Emmanuel P. Barthe, the historical development of policing in educational settings is described. High school and college campus police encounter unique issues, such as jurisdiction, police authority, and carrying fire arms. Furthermore, challenges for crime analysis and crime prevention in educational settings are described.
Chapter 9 “Surveillance and Urban Public Space” by Gregory Howard and Elizabeth Bradshow provides an overview of contemporary surveillance practices from a sociological viewpoint. Having conceptualized surveillance as the means to control access to certain spaces and manage behaviors within the spaces, implications for policing are described through case studies of the cities of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and Chicago.
Chapter 10 “Spatial Crime Prevention: Traditional and Nontraditional Perspectives” by Ronald G. Burns summarizes crime prevention concepts in spatial terms. According to Burns, nontraditional spatial crime prevention considers cultural spaces, crime mapping, cyberspace, and spatiotemporal factors. Through the depictions of nontraditional approaches, Burns describes future challenges that current law enforcement faces in spatial crime prevention.
As vast majority of crimes occur at certain places, controlling space is crucial in policing. While community policing with the problem-oriented approach based on defensible space theory and broken windows theory appear to be promising at the philosophical level, crime and other related social problems are space and context specific. Solutions to these problems require careful considerations of the role of space in creating these problems. Spatial Policing will be an invaluable asset to students and practitioners in critically assessing the root causes of crime in spatial terms.