Police Sergeant Practice Exam

What policing approach focuses on addressing underlying social issues that lead to crime?

1. Community policing

2. Problem solving policing

3. Traditional policing

4. Reactive policing

The correct answer is: Problem solving policing

The focus on addressing underlying social issues that lead to crime aligns with the principles of problem-solving policing. This approach emphasizes identifying and understanding the root causes of crime and disorder within a community rather than simply responding to incidents as they occur. Problem-solving policing encourages law enforcement agencies to work collaboratively with community members and other stakeholders to develop tailored strategies that address specific problems, which may include factors such as poverty, lack of education, or insufficient mental health resources. By utilizing a data-driven analysis of crime trends and community feedback, this approach aims to create long-term solutions that improve community safety and quality of life, rather than only managing immediate crime incidents. In contrast, community policing, while also community-focused, may not specifically emphasize underlying social issues in the same way. Traditional policing relies more on a reactive stance to crime, emphasizing enforcement and punishment. Reactive policing, similarly, is primarily focused on responding after crimes have occurred rather than preventing criminal behavior through addressing social conditions.