Police and Community

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
CRIM 4440
Discontinued
No
Course Code
CRIM 4440
Descriptive
Police and Community
Department
Criminology
Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
35
Contact Hours

Lecture: 2 hours per week

Seminar: 2 hours per week 

or

Hybrid:

2 hours in-class per week

2 hours online per week

or

Online

 

Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Online
Hybrid
Learning Activities

The course will employ a range of instructional techniques:

  • lecture
  • class discussion
  • audio-visual materials
  • guest lectures
  • examinations and term projects, including term papers.
Course Description
This course examines the philosophy and practice of community policing and contrasts community-based approaches with traditional models of policing. The course critically explores the history of community policing and police reform in Canada specifically and in North America generally. It reviews the structure and delivery of modern policing services as a response to contemporary issues such as fear of crime and the changing nature of crime in diverse communities.
Course Content
  1. Policing in Canada
    • Evolution of Canadian policing
    • Overview of contemporary Canadian policing
  2. Community Policing
    • Definition
    • Contrast to other policing styles
    • Understanding modern community policing
  3. The Police and Public Perceptions and Expectations
    • Community policing and fear
  4. Canadian Police Culture, Organizational Change and Community Policing
  5. Crime Response and Crime Prevention within a Community Policing framework
    • The community police officer
  6. Community Policing Strategies
    • Problem-oriented policing
    • Intelligence-led policing
    • COMPSTAT – Computer Statistics
    • Team policing
    • Restorative justice approaches
  7. The Community and Community Policing
    • The increasing diversity of Canadian communities
    • Increasing reliance on volunteers
  8. Assessing the Effectiveness of Community Policing
Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of the course, the successful student will be able to:

  1. Describe the evolution of Canadian policing.
  2. Explain the structure and governance of modern Canadian policing.
  3. Define community policing and contrast it to traditional forms of policing.
  4. Illustrate public perceptions and expectations with respect to policing services.
  5. Explain the fear of crime phenomenon and its impact on policing.
  6. Describe the function and purpose of community police officers.
  7. Depict and assess problem-oriented policing, intelligence-led policing, team policing approaches.
  8. Analyze the utility of restorative justice approaches with a community policing philosophy.
  9. Describe the existing Canadian police culture.
  10. Evaluate the evolving nature of crime and policing in diverse communities.
Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.  The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.  Evaluation will be based on some of the following:

  1. Short Answer Tests
  2. Exams
  3. Term Papers

An example of one possible evaluation scheme would be:

Midterm 1  20%
Midterm 2  20%
Term Paper  30%
Final Exam  30%
 Total 100%
Textbook Materials

Texts will be updated periodically. Typical example:

  • Whitelaw, B. & Parent, R. (2019) Community Based Strategic Policing in Canada, 5th ed. Nelson, Toronto.

Weekly readings to ensure awareness and discussion of relevant current events.

 

 

 

Prerequisites

CRIM 1120