The Power to Arrest: Lessons from Research (Springerbriefs in Criminology)

This insightful volume examines key research questions concerning police decision to arrest as well as police-led diversion. The authors critically evaluate the tentative answers that empirical evidence provides to those questions, and suggest areas for future inquiry. Nearly seven decades of empirical study have provided extensive knowledge regarding police use of arrest. However, this research highlights important gaps in our understanding of factors that shape police decision-making and what is required to alter current police practice. Reviewing this research base, this brief takes stock of what is known empirically about all aspects related to the use of arrests, providing important insights on the knowledge needed to make evidence-based policy decisions moving forward. With the potential to better impact policy and programs for alternatives to arrest, this brief will appeal to researchers and practitioners in evidence-based policing and police decision-making, as well as those interested in alternatives to arrest and related fields such as public policy. -- Provided by publisher Front Matter ....Pages i-xiv Introduction (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 1-10 Placing Arrest in Context (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 11-27 Explaining the Decision to Arrest (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 29-74 Alternatives to Arrest (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 75-122 Research Considerations (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 123-139 Implications and Recommendations (Robin S. Engel, Robert E. Worden, Nicholas Corsaro, Hannah D. McManus, Danielle Reynolds, Hannah Cochran et al.)....Pages 141-162 Back Matter ....Pages 163-163