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Police in America
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Police in America

Third Edition
Available with:
Learning platform
January 2024 | 568 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Grounded in evidence-based research, Police in America, Third Edition provides a comprehensive and realistic introduction to modern-day policing in the United States. Written in a conversational tone and designed to be reader-friendly, this text helps students grasp best practices in everyday policing and encourages them to think critically about common misconceptions of police work. Author Steven G. Brandl draws from his experience with law enforcement to emphasize the positive aspects of policing while addressing its controversies and tackling topics centered on one pivotal question: "What is good policing?" Discussions of discretion, police use of force, and tough ethical and moral dilemmas offer students a deeper look into the complex issues of policing, prompting them to think more broadly about its impact on society.
 
Part I: Foundations for The Study of The Police
 
Chapter 1: An Introduction to The Police in America
 
Chapter 2: The History of The Police in America
 
Chapter 3: The Characteristics and Structure of Police Organizations
 
Chapter 4: The Role of The Police
 
Part II: Police Work
 
Chapter 5: Police Recruitment, Selection, And Training
 
Chapter 6: Police Patrol
 
Chapter 7: Crime Detection and Investigation
 
Chapter 8: Police Discretion and Its Control
 
Chapter 9: The Law of Search, Seizure, And Self-Incrimination
 
Part III: The Hazards of Police Work
 
Chapter 10: Health and Safety Issues in Police Work
 
Chapter 11: Police Use of Force
 
Chapter 12: Police Misconduct and Corruption
 
Part IV: Police Strategies and The Future of The Police in America
 
Chapter 13: Community and Problem-Oriented Policing
 
Chapter 14: Evidence-Based and Intelligence-Led Policing
 
Chapter 15: Crime, Technology, And the Future of American Policing

Supplements

Instructor Resource Site
For additional information, custom options, or to request a personalized walkthrough of these resources, please contact your sales representative.

LMS cartridge included with this title for use in Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace by Desire2Learn (D2L), and Moodle

The LMS cartridge makes it easy to import this title’s instructor resources into your learning management system (LMS). These resources include:
  • Test banks
  • Editable chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides
  • Lecture notes
Don’t use an LMS platform?

You can still access the online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

"The best introduction to policing textbook I’ve found thus far."

Shana Mell
Virginia Commonwealth University

"Well researched, well-written, factual, and unbiased."

Paul Klenowski
Clarion University of PA
Key features
NEW TO THIS EDITION:
  • The new edition is available in Sage Vantage, an intuitive learning platform that integrates quality Sage textbook content with assignable multimedia activities and auto-graded assessments to drive student engagement and ensure accountability. Unparalleled in its ease of use and built for dynamic teaching and learning, Vantage offers customizable LMS integration and best-in-class support.
    • Flashcards and note-taking tools help students better prepare for class.
    • NEW! Audiobook Player allows students to listen to text content, boosting comprehension and retention. It offers flexible, on-the-go access, engaging both reluctant readers and auditory learners, improving the overall reading experience.
    • The Offline Reading option in the Student Dashboard offers greater accessibility to Vantage’s reading content, regardless of where students are or how strong their internet connection may be.
  • Revised figures and statistics provide readers with the most recent insights in the field.
  • Over 100 additional publications are discussed and referenced in this edition.
  • New sections on critical topics such as the debate about "defunding" and "refunding" the police, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, why diversity in police departments is critical, and school and other mass shootings, have been added, while other discussions have been refined for clarity, depth, and brevity.
KEY FEATURES:
  • "Fact or Fiction" sections at the beginning of chapters help students confront misconceptions about policing and assess their knowledge about forthcoming chapter content; accompanying answers appear at the end of chapters.
  • "Good Policing" sections offers examples of police programs, policies, and issues that relate to effective, equitable, and ethical policing to highlight the importance of being a good police officer.
  • "A Question of Ethics" callouts present ethical dilemmas that prompt students to think critically about a particular issue in policing.
  • "Police Spotlights" offer real-world examples to help frame chapter content.
  • "A Question to Consider" callouts pose questions to help students stop and consider the implications of the content for them and the field as a whole.
  • "A Research Question" sections feature a particularly interesting and significant research study relevant to the topic of each chapter so that students can draw evidence-based conclusions about what works in policing.
  • "Technology on the Job" sections examine technology used on the job by the police to familiarize students with key technological advances in policing.
Vantage Reference: 
Police in America - Vantage Learning Platform

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