Community well being: Investigating the police role in jurisdiction -level outcomes

The police are the most visible representatives of government and therefore have more contact with the citizenry than any other part of government. Police---especially in highly urbanized areas---represent an important public institution responsible for performing a diverse array of both crime and non-crime services. Some of these services are vitally important to the overall health of the community. Depending on the strategies and tactics they employ, the police may be able to increase safety, bolster informal social controls and decrease fear of victimization. An explanatory model is created based on the research literature in the fields of public health, nursing, social work, and policing. Using archival data, the relationship between community health and policing will be investigated in 470 communities. The findings of the study have implications for policy formation not only concerning police strategies but also of the development of health and community intervention programs.