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Sir Robert Peel set the tone for American policing and his practices are still being followed present day. He had the idea that focusing on preventing crime was more effective than punishing criminals and that crime prevention would set a precedence for what was to come and deter individuals from any illegal or forbidden activity.
Policing began in the early 1200’s, when Britain established a “watch” system that relied on citizens, or a posse, responsible for monitoring the community. England established the Watch and Ward police system, and as time passed, responsibilities and jurisdictions spread as cities formed and the population rose. Police departments were formed, police officers were hired, and were then held accountable and in charge of policing their own cities and towns. Before centralized law enforcement was established, citizens were all in all responsible for keeping the peace among themselves. The vision slowly moved to America, when in 1625, the he first law-enforcement officer began to patrol New York City. They were in charge of keeping the peace, settling minor disputes, and warning colonists if fires broke out at night (“Policeone.com”, 2011). The Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, introduced by Sir Robert Peel, served as the model for modern urban police departments throughout England and not only established the Metropolitan Police of London by replacing the previously disorganized system of parish constables and watchmen, it assisted in the creation of the American law enforcement and policing (Grant & Terry, pp. 29-30, 2012). Crime prevention was Peel’s number one priority and we continue to follow his vision of effective policing.
The relationship between the government and policing impacts the criminal justice system, as they have to work together in many instances for the system to maintain an effective and efficient presence in

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