世界上有許多國家，現正推行或探究社區警政。學術界與實務界亦漸次體察此種 與社區結合的警政策略，可能可以較有效地預防犯罪的發生。此種新式警政策略的運作與效 能，正是本文所欲討論的範疇。 本文首先論述社區警政策略性思考的基礎，以說明社區警政策略形成的合理性。其次，討論 社區警政的操作性定義及目標－犯罪預防，本部份詳細說明了社區警政的中心思想與實務運 作。再者，本文論述了社區警政在實施上的多樣性，並列舉有關國家的實施型態以為比較。 而在社區警政效能的探究方面，本文分析了相關評估研究，結果並無一致性的證實社區警政 可以有效預防犯罪的發生。 然而，從警政發展的脈絡中觀察，社區警政不僅只是警政策略上的一種選擇而已。它更代表 了警察服務對象的改變，以及操控警察權力的轉移，它甚至更代表著一種優質性的民主演化 。

　　　　　Police in many countries around the world are now engaged in or exploring what is termed "Community Policing". Academics and police practitioners in those venues have come to understand that community policing seems to be an effective strategy to prevent crime. But what is the definition of this strategy? How to operate this strategy, or does it hold a promising future? This paper addresses those questions. This paper begins with an overview of the basis for the strategic thinking that has become known as community policing. Then, we discuss its operational definition and goal-crime prevention. As community policing has developed in many different places, several variations occur. We also examine those variations and compare their patterns. Furthermore, we examine the tests of the crime prevention efficacy of community policing. Evidences are weak or lacking altogether for the crime prevention efficacy of community policing. However, from the development of policing, we find community policing is not only a choice of police strategy, it also means a change of the recipients for police service. In addition, it represents a shift in the location of authority over the police. It is a qualitative advance in democratic evolution.