This anthology introduces students to the dynamic, rapidly changing field of Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS). The context of community crime and its causes are brought to the forefront in this collection of articles by leading academics and practitioners. Coverage includes such diverse topics as: * The evolution of policing. * The role of citizens in social control, crime prevention, and prevention strategies. * What police officers need to know about crime. * The major changes required for organizations to successfully implement community policing. * The role of the community as well as public and private agencies in the movement toward COPPS. * Criminological factors which contribute to crime and disorder in our communities. * Articles on mobilizing communities. * Future trends in community policing. Despite the widespread implementation of community-oriented policing, its success has varied significantly from locale to locale. Policing Communities emphasizes (1) the role that the community plays in developing effective strategies for controlling and preventing crime, (2) new methods the police are using to examine the context of crime, and (3) procedures that agencies are using to implement COPPS. Brief, thought-provoking introductions are provided for each article, framing the piece in a larger context. These introductions serve as a useful "road map" for students.

Introduction Part I: The Emergence of a New Policing 1. Improving Policing: A Problem-Oriented Approach, H. Goldstein 2. Acquiring a Taste for Order: The Community and the Police, G. L. Kelling 3. The New Police Order: Effectiveness, Equity, and Efficiency in Community Policing, J. Eck and D. P. Rosenbaum 4. The Changing Role of the Police: Assessing the Current Transition to Community Policing, D. P. Rosenbaum Part II: Mobilizing Communities Toward the Control and Prevention of Crime 5. Building a Responsive Community, J. Gardner 6. Social Capital and a Sense of Community Building: Building Social Cohesion, M. Correia 7. Neighborhood Disorder, Integration and the Fear of Crime, E. F. McGarrell, A. Giacomazzi, and Q. Thurman 8. Implementing the Challenges in Community Policing: Innovative Neighborhood-Oriented Policing in Eight Cities, S. Sadd and R. Grinc 9. Lasting Impact: Maintaining Neighborhood Order, R. W. Glensor and K. J. Peak Part III: Street-Level Criminology: What Police Need to Know About Crime 10. Sitting Ducks, Ravenous Wolves, and Helping Hands: New Approaches to Urban Policing, W. Spelman and J. Eck 11. Defining the Hot Spots of Crime, M. E. Burger, E. G. Cohn, and A. J. Petrosino 12. Catching Career Criminals, S. Martin and L. Sherman 13. Focusing on Prey Rather Than Predators: A Problem-Oriented Response to Victimization, R. Glensor, K. Peak, and M. Correia 14. Physical Environment and Crime, R. Taylor and A. Harrell 15. Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Studies, R. Clarke Part IV: Implementing Change in Police Departments 16. Community-Oriented Policing Across the U.S.: Facilitators and Impediments to Implementation, J. Zhao, Q. Thurman, and N. Lovrich 17. Implementing Change: Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving, R. Glensor and K. Peak 18. Winning the Hearts and Minds of Police Officers: An Assessment of Staff Perceptions of Community Policing and Problem Solving, A. Lurgio and W. Skogan 19. Toward a Practical Approach to Organizational Change: Community Policing Initiatives in Six Cities, D. Weisel and J. Eck 20. Citizen Perceptions of Community Policing: Are Attitudes Towards Police Important? M. D. Reisig and A. L. Giacomazzi 21. Community Policing Evaluation, D. L. Carter and A. D. Sapp Part V: Epilogue: Future Trends and Challenges 22. The Current State and Future of Community Policing, W. L. Tafoya 23. Future Issues in Policing: Challenges for Leaders, S. Greenberg