Police Choice: Feasible Policy Options for a Safer and Freer Society

Abstract

The system of policing in the United States is costly and ineffective, perhaps because of the government monopoly on residentially assigned police departments. A system of private or public police choice could introduce competitive pressures into the market for policing and improve overall quality levels. I discuss examples of private policing and respond to the common criticisms of systems of police choice. I also propose possible police choice policy options that could be used to achieve a society with stronger rights protection and fewer rights violations.

Keywords: private policing, police choice, police vouchers, criminal justice

JEL Classification: K10, P40