ABSTRACT
Historically, the concepts of self-help and self-protection were considered foundational to the enforcement of law and the assurance of social order. The private citizen was, by most measures, the chief party responsible for the safety and security of a community. Public law enforcement is a much more novel concept. Whether private or public in design, ideas about policing and protection arise from a variety of influences. Although modern law enforcement, security organizations, and policing/security functions were not initiated during the Middle Ages, an idea of the need and design for law enforcement and security did originate during this era. The first half of the nineteenth century saw a rise in urbanization, crime, and the need for better law enforcement. World War II and the years that followed would have a profound effect on the type, organization, and need for American private security.
