What began decades ago and was brought to the forefront of our thinking in the 1990s under President Bill Clinton, has become a common feature when people consider the effectiveness of the police?

The topic of community policing has become an indelible part of the study of criminal justice. What began decades ago and was brought to the forefront of our thinking in the 1990s under President Bill Clinton, has become a common feature when people consider the effectiveness of the police. Much has been made of what constitutes community policing and there are a host of strategies and tactics used by agencies around the country under the rubric of community policing. But what do we actually known about the effectiveness of community policing? While a full discussion is beyond the scope of this class or the assignment, your task is to conduct a brief internet search on the overall effectiveness of community policing. I can tell you that there is a lot of information and the short answer to an assessment is “it depends.” What are some of the challenges to understanding the effectiveness of community policing?