What was one of the key reasons for decreased interactions between police and the public from 1900 to 1940?

Increased mobility played a significant role in the decreased interactions between police and the public from 1900 to 1940. As urban areas expanded and transportation methods improved, individuals were able to travel more easily and quickly. This mobility often led people to engage in activities farther from their home neighborhoods, thereby limiting local interactions with police who mainly engaged with the community in familiar, localized contexts. Additionally, increased mobility meant that people could evade traditional policing methods, as they were less likely to be known by local law enforcement. This shift contributed to a more fragmented community structure and a reduced reliance on police presence in day-to-day public life, thus decreasing interactions between the two.

Understanding how increased mobility influenced societal dynamics provides insight into the evolving relationship between communities and their law enforcement institutions during this period.