Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Community policing encourages police to:

1. focus only on serious crimes

2. develop relationships with community members

3. remain in their patrol cars at all times

4. ignore minor disturbances

The correct answer is: develop relationships with community members

Community policing is an approach that emphasizes the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This strategy encourages officers to build strong relationships with community members, fostering trust and open communication. By doing so, police can better understand the needs and concerns of the community, which allows them to address issues more effectively and proactively. This relationship-driven approach helps to create a sense of shared responsibility for public safety. Community policing recognizes that crime prevention is not solely the job of law enforcement, but requires the involvement and cooperation of the community members themselves. Officers working within this framework often engage in outreach activities, attend community meetings, and participate in local events to strengthen ties with the public. Other approaches, such as focusing exclusively on serious crimes or staying in patrol cars, do not promote the same level of interaction or community engagement. Ignoring minor disturbances also contradicts the principles of community policing, which aims to address various quality-of-life issues along with serious crime to enhance overall community well-being.