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Learning Objectives

15-1:  Describe the history and background of private police.

15-2:  List the size of the current private security force.

15-3:  Summarize the various roles and employment information of private and contract security personnel.

15-4:  Discuss the authority, requirements, and accountability of private security personnel.

15-5:  Explain the differences between private and public police, as well as the risks and benefits of a privatized police force.

15-6:  Identify possible strategies that could be implemented to mitigate the current discord between police and private security personnel.

Article 1
Kwon, Sung-Wook, Pace William Rawlins (2015). Walking the line on police privatization:  efficiency, accountability and court decisions. International Review of Administrative Sciences, 0(0) 1–18. doi: 10.1177/0020852314566005

This research reviews key issues in the privatization of local police services by discussing economic and political pressures for police privatization and concerns regarding the quality and accountability of privatized police. In particular, the authors explore whether the cost-efficiency sought from police privatization outweighs a critical side effect of a growing confusion regarding police oversight and significant uncertainties in accountability. They analyze court decisions in the US dealing with the question of whether constitutional protections extend to private police conduct. Relevant court decisions suggest that the confusion may grow even worse and local policy makers may need to pay more attention if they decide to privatize police services. 

1. What are concerns around police privatization?
2. How can these concerns be addressed?