The Sources of Violence in America and Their Consequences for Law Enforcement

by Meyer, C. Kenneth; Brunk, Gregory G.; Wilson, Laura Ann

• ISBN13: 9780398071509
• ISBN10: 0398071500
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-11-01
• Publisher: Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd

Author Biography

C. Kenneth Meyer is Thomas F. Sheehan Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and former Chair, Department of Public Administration, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, and former director, Programs in Public Administration, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Table of Contents

Preface	v
Illustrations	xix
Tables	xxi
Appendices	xxiii
Introduction	3	(14)
Definitions of Violence	7	(2)
Concepts Closely Related to Violence	9	(3)
Current Trends in United States Crime Statistics	12	(5)
Ethics and Violence	17	(16)
Legitimacy of Violence	19	(6)
Social Psychology Meets Political Theory	25	(5)
Summary	30	(3)
Violent Behavior	33	(20)
The Importance of Order	33	(2)
Violence as Learned Behavior	35	(3)
Psychological and Genetic Explanations	38	(6)
Violence as a Response to Modern Society	44	(3)
Violence as Goal-Directed Behavior	47	(2)
Violence as a Contagious Disease	49	(4)
The Nature of Authority and Functions of the Police	53	(17)
Mediating Conflict and Order Maintenance	53	(3)
Enforcing Law	56	(3)
Law and Order	59	(4)
Law and the Police	63	(4)
Community Service	67	(1)
Summary	68	(2)
Theories of Criminal Violence	70	(16)
Structural-Functionalism Theory	72	(3)
Control Theory	75	(2)
Strain Theory	77	(1)
Symbolic Interaction and Cultural Deviancy Theories	78	(2)
Labeling Theory	80	(1)
Political Economy Theories	81	(2)
The Situational Perspective	83	(3)
Theories of Police Assaults	86	(29)
Types of Evidence	93	(1)
The FBI Study	94	(3)
Types of Crimes and Level of Injuries	97	(9)
Control Theory	106	(3)
Cultural Deviancy and Political Culture Theories	109	(3)
Situations and Police Assaults	112	(3)
Characteristics of Assaulted Officers	115	(17)
Physical Factors	117	(6)
Career Factors	123	(4)
Personality Factors	127	(5)
Characteristics of Assailants	132	(13)
Physical Factors	133	(2)
Personal Factors	135	(7)
Motivations	142	(3)
Characteristics of Assault Situations	145	(12)
Timing and Location of Assaults	145	(3)
Injuries to Offices and Assailants	148	(3)
Situational Dynamics	151	(6)
Geographical Patterns	157	(13)
America's Three Political Cultures	158	(5)
The Regional Character of Antipolice Assaults	163	(2)
Summary	165	(5)
Conclusion	170	(6)
Summarizing What We Know	171	(5)
Endnotes	176	(7)
Vignettes	183	(32)
Appendices	215	(28)
References	243	(10)
Index	253