The Illinois State Police as an Archetypal Model

Abstract

This article is a social history regarding the creation and evolution of the state police in Illinois as an archetypal model. The methodology and data collection employed a content analysis of both primary and secondary sources. It is posited that the Illinois State Police is a historical artifact that is the product of: (1) the Progressive agenda and the concomitant police professionalization movement; (2) social, economic and cultural forces at work during the years immediately following the turn of the century; and (3) the desire by entrenched power to control the laboring and unruly classes. Both the evolution of the Illinois State Police and its place within the American scheme of policing are representative of other state-level policing agencies across the nation.While an abundance of literature has been produced regarding the urban police phenomenon, little has been generated regarding other policing institutions in America, including the state police. A review of contemporary texts in policing shows that state-level policing has been largely ignored or given only scant attention. For example, Walker 1992-a seminal text in policing-has only one paragraph on state-level policing, and Gaines's and Cordner's anthology of policing (1999) is completely silent on the issue.This article provides a social history for the emergence of the state police concept, using the Illinois State Police as a representative and evolutionary model. The social history focuses on the impact of the Progressive Era regarding U.S. policing institutions generally and, more specifically, on Progressivism as the impetus for the creation of many state police organizations.A brief overview of the Progressive agenda is presented, followedby its connection to the police professionalization movement. The effects of the tumultuous history of the early twentieth century (i.e., World War I, prohibition, massive immigration and labor and evolutionary unrest) are identified as catalysts for policing at the state level.

America’s conservation police: agencies in transition

“…While the emergence of state-level policing, based on the impact of the Progressive Era (1890-1900 state and local and 1900-1920 federal progressivism) has previously been established by police scholars (Bechtel, 1995;Falcone, 1998;Fuller, 1999;Ray, 1995), this article argues that state-level conservation policing began long before the beginnings of progressivism. It is the thesis of this article that conservation policing in the USA originally evolved as a pale reflection of an earlier form of conservation policing found in thirteenth-century England, but, reoriented its mission as a result of fundamental notions found in American culture, the increase of discretionary time for the working class, and the accessability of leisure-time venues made possible by the introduction of the automobile.…”

Ecological Influences on State Police District Activity

“…Two studies (Bechtel, 1995;Falcone, 1998) provide historical viewpoints on the development of state police and highway patrol agencies. Both studies emphasise that these agencies emerged out of the professional / reform era of policing in the early twentieth century and, as such, these agencies tend to foster an organisational culture that is very rigid and legalistic.…”

“…Comparatively little research has been conducted with state-level law enforcement agencies (Falcone, 1998;Langworthy & Travis, 2003;National Research Council, 2004). Within the USA there are 49 state police and state highway patrol agencies which together employ more than 56,000 sworn officers.…”

The ecological theory of police response: a state police agency test

“…Highway patrol agencies are usually given state-wide jurisdiction, with precincts (often called 'posts' or 'barracks') scattered across the state. While highway patrol organizations have full police powers, their mandate is usually heavily focused on traffic enforcement and crimes that occur along major highways (Bechtel, 1995;Falcone, 1998;Walker & Katz, 2008).…”

“…A comparatively small amount of research has been devoted to rural and small-town law enforcement agencies (Weisheit, Falcone, & Wells, 2006), and the research on state-level law enforcement agencies is almost nonexistent (Falcone, 1998;Langworthy & Travis, 2003;National Research Council, 2004). Within the USA there are 49 state police or state highway patrol agencies which together employ more than 56,000 sworn officers (often referred to by the title 'trooper').…”