Shifting and Sharing Responsibility for Public Safety Problems

Although the police address many public safety problems effectively in the exercise of their normal authority and expertise, they have come to depend on others to aid them by addressing the conditions that underlie crime and disorder. With such help, the police can more effectively prevent and control such problems. This guide examines how the police can persuade private citizens, business, or the government to respond to common crime and disorder problems, provided that they do not violate basic standards of propriety and legality.