Despite their ability to improve public safety, research has often prioritized the central role of the police in order maintenance, frequently overlooking the activities of non-state organizations. The current study examines the role of one such security program, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). Specifically, it explores how BIDs’ security teams, also known as Public Safety Officers, enforce order within their local districts. Data were collected from 76 semi-structured interviews and 171 hr of participant observations within four different BIDs in the two American cities. Findings illustrate how study participants demonstrated their use of reporting, surveillance, and other behavioral strategies to establish order and themselves as guardians within their districts. Scholars’ disproportionate focus on the work of the police downplays the importance of private organizations. This study is an exploration into a piece of this larger order maintenance network.

中文翻译：

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商业改进区对秩序维护监管的考察

尽管他们有能力改善公共安全，但研究往往优先考虑警察在维持秩序方面的核心作用，经常忽视非国家组织的活动。当前的研究考察了这样一个安全计划——商业改进区 (BID) 的作用。具体而言，它探讨了 BID 的安全团队（也称为公共安全官员）如何在其当地区域内执行秩序。数据是从 76 次半结构化访谈和 171 小时参与者观察中收集的，这些观察是在两个美国城市的四个不同 BID 中进行的。调查结果说明了研究参与者如何展示他们如何使用报告、监视和其他行为策略来建立秩序，并将他们自己作为他们所在地区的监护人。学者对警察工作的过度关注淡化了私人组织的重要性。这项研究是对这个更大的订单维护网络的一部分的探索。