Introduction to Policing
Curriculum guideline
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lectures, small groups and class discussion. Police practitioners may be utilized when appropriate.
The Context of Policing in Canada in the Twenty-First-Century
- The Origin of Policing in Canada
- The Canadian Experience
- Levels of Policing in Canada
- Private Policing
The Canadian Criminal Justice System
Recruitment and Training
- Recruitment
- Field Training
- Specialized Training
Ethics and Discretion
- Discretion in the Field
- Use of Force and Discretion
- Unethical Behaviour by Police Officers
Accountability and Oversight
- Formal Structures
- Police Oversight Models
Performance Measurement
- Classic Quantitative Performance Measures
- Alternate and Qualitative Measures of Performance
- Why Performance Measures Fail
Patrol
- Uniformed Patrol Officers
- Patrol Methods
- Patrol Allocation
- Priority Calls
- Police Pursuits
Investigations
- From the Patrol Officer to Specialized Units
- Linkage Blindness
- Civilian Specialists
- Major Case Management
- Judicial Authorizations
- Police Agents
Operational Support
- Covert Teams: Surveillance
- Special Equipment and Tactics Teams
- Forensic Services
- Administrative Support
Economics of Policing
Policing and Crime Prevention
Crime Analysis
National Security Policing
Policing and a Diverse Society
- Canadian Diversity
- Indigenous Peoples and Policing
- LGBTQ2+ Communities & Policing
At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:
- Interpret and appraise the function and role of the police in society.
- Explain the place of the police in the criminal justice system, and their interaction with other agencies.
- Understand and explain the legal and moral authority of police.
- Describe the various roles of officers within the police department, and the duties and responsibilities.
- Outline and summarize the historical evolution of the police.
- Describe and distinguish the traditional and contemporary approaches to police work.
The evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. At the beginning of the semester the instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria. Evaluation may be based on some combination of the following:
- Exams
- Research paper
- Group Presentation
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
| Exam 1 | 25% |
| Exam 2 | 25% |
| Research Paper | 30% |
| Group Presentation | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Text books will be updated periodically. A typcial example is:
Campbell, Cater and Pollard (2017). Canadian Policing. Oxford University Press. ISBN-13: 9780199018789
Courses listed here must be completed prior to this course:
- No prerequisite courses
Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:
- No corequisite courses
Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:
- No equivalency courses
CRIM 2220