Describe a situation in which the watchman style of policing would be used in the career field.

1 Describe a situation in which the watchman style of policing would be used in the career field.

The watchman style of policing focuses on maintaining law and order in the community using minimal force. It focuses on informal handling of violations and fostering peaceful coexistence in the community. Under this style, using informal strategies to maintain peace is prioritized to strict implementation of the legal framework (Gant & Schaible, 2022). Using the watchman’s style of policing is imperative in the social work career field that focuses on fostering peaceful coexistence in the community using informal strategies such as sensitizing the community on avoidance of violence and peaceful coexistence. A situation where a watchman's style is applicable would be solving a land dispute in the neighborhood. Rather than pursuing the formal criminal justice procedure of arrests and persecution in a court of law, the social work professional would prioritize solving the dispute informally to enhance positive relationships within the community.

Explain what you can infer about the organizational and political culture of the agency based on the watchman style.

A social work agency prioritizing watchman’s policing style prefers community harmony to strict enforcement of the law. Such an agency also prefers informal laws and guidelines to the strict legal framework. Hence, the political culture of such an agency would be communityoriented and inclined towards a relatively flexible approach to law enforcement. For example, in land disputes, the agency would focus on mediating the conflict to allow the parties to reach a mutually fulfilling consensus.

2 Describe a situation in which the legalistic style of policing would be used in the career field.

The legalistic style of policing focuses on strict enforcement of the law as outlined in the Constitution. Legal procedures and codes are implemented with little flexibility and discretion (Nugroho et al., 2022). This implies that even minor offenses would attract arrests and prosecution in the court of law. In the context of a social work agency, the social work practitioners would report community members who violate the set codes and support their imprisonment to correct behavior.

Explain what you can infer about the organizational and political culture of the agency based on the legalistic style.

A social work agency using the legalistic policing style will likely embrace a structured regulatory framework based on preexisting laws and regulations. The agency would focus on strict adherence to rules and regulations and punishments of people who act contrary. The political culture in the organization is likely to be oriented on fostering accountability and transparency using legal mechanisms so that those who do not align with the code set are punished based on the preexisting legal framework. The legalistic style would be applicable when a social work agency is combating theft cases in a community. In such cases, the agency may combat the crime by strictly applying rules and regulations against the perpetrators. Using laws would serve as both general and specific deterrence to the offenders and the larger community (Nugroho et al., 2022). This would foster holistic sustainability in the long run.

Describe a situation in which the service style of policing would be used in the career field.

3 The service style focuses on addressing the root cause of crime of social misconduct in a community. This is achieved through community engagement, outreach programs, and collaborative problem-solving strategies that focus on solving the root cause of social issues. The service style of policing embraces a holistic approach to life that focuses on minimizing adverse social problems, maximizing the common good for the greatest number of people, and improving the overall quality of life (Nugroho et al., 2022). In the career field of social work, the service style of policing focuses on enlightening the public and avoidance of crime and violent behaviors. The corresponding political culture focuses on proactive problem-solving and overall community well-being.

Explain what you can infer about the organizational and political culture of the agency based on the service culture of the agency based on the service style.

A social work agency embracing the service style would focus on community work to create a positive social rapport with community members. This aligns with the proactive community culture centered on preventive strategies rather than curative interventions. For example, a social work agency using the service policing approach would be more focused on preventive crimes and violent behaviors as opposed to reacting after crimes and violence have happened. Among the interventions helpful in fostering the service policing style include community policing, social work groups, and mentorship and rehabilitation groups to encourage behavior change in cases of deviant groups.

4 References Gant, L., & Schaible, L. (2022). The impact of policing styles on officers’ willingness to make referrals into pre-arrest diversion initiatives. Police Practice and Research, 23(1), 20-33.

Nugroho, F. S., Mashdurohatun, A., Bawono, B. T., & Wiwoho, J. (2023). The Concept of Law Enforcement of the Crime of Theft through a Restorative Justice Approach. Sch Int J Law Crime Justice, 6(8), 408-423.