On the Issues: Michael Scott

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MICHAEL SCOTT, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR PROBLEM-ORIENTED POLICING

Police departments around the country use a variety of approaches to deal with crime and disorder. Problem-oriented policing is one of them. In 2001, the founder of the approach, Professor Herman Goldstein, described it this way: “Problem-oriented policing places a high value on new responses that are preventive in nature, that are not dependent on the use of the criminal justice system, and that engage other public agencies, the community and the private sector when their involvement has the potential for significantly contributing to the reduction of the problem.” Today, the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, under the direction of Professor Michael Scott, is seeking to help departments around the country more effectively address the many challenges they face. Scott brings a unique perspective to his role. He’s a former Madison police officer, a former police chief in Lauderhill, Florida, and has served in various civilian administrative positions in the St. Louis Metropolitan, Ft. Pierce, Florida, and New York City police departments. He was formerly clinical professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and is currently clinical professor at Arizona State University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Join us for this conversation about problem-oriented policing. What is it, how does it work, and what are its implications for Milwaukee, a city that says it is already employing the concept?