Which term describes the use of private firms to perform police functions?

• A. Militarization
• B. Federalization
• C. Privatization
• D. Centralization

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is privatization of policing—the idea that government tasks can be outsourced to private firms. Privatization describes when functions that used to be performed by a public agency are contracted out to private entities. In policing, this can mean private security companies patrolling areas, handling investigative support, or operating facilities like jails or forensic labs under contract. The important point is that the government retains oversight and sets standards, but the actual day-to-day work is carried out by private providers.

This fits best because the statement specifically refers to private firms performing police functions. The other terms describe different shifts or methods: militarization involves adopting military-style tactics and equipment within policing; federalization refers to shifting authority to the federal level; centralization means concentrating power within a central authority. None of these capture the outsourcing of police work to private firms.