Final answer:
Despecialization in policing refers to placing more responsibility on neighborhood-level officers to engage with the community, part of community-oriented policing to increase police legitimacy and reduce crime. It aligns with Social Disorganization Theory that emphasizes the role of community in crime rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
An accurate statement about despecializing in policing is that the police place greater responsibility on rank-and-file officers at the neighborhood level to become more responsive to neighborhood residents. This approach is part of a broader strategy known as community-oriented policing, which aims to strengthen the bond between the police force and the community they serve, thereby increasing police legitimacy and helping to reduce crime. By focusing on the relationship with the community, authorities can address the root causes of crime and work towards fostering a safer environment through strategies such as intensive foot patrols in crime hotspots, enhancements in street lighting, neighborhood watch programs, and the use of technology such as CCTV and body cameras. Additionally, understanding crime through the lens of the Social Disorganization Theory highlights the importance of social context in crime rates, suggesting areas of heterogeneous and transient populations may experience a lack of collective social control, which can contribute to higher crime rates.