NCJ Number
101296
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1986) Pages: 24-30
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The automation of many aspects of police work will produce many changes, but the specific nature of these changes and their effects on crime control are not yet known.
Abstract
The movement toward automation has complemented the move toward professionalism, with its accompanying requirement of a centralized, systematic information gathering process. Automated management and crime-related information systems appear also to reflect reformers' efforts to increase both the internal and the external accountability of police organizations. Automating information systems provides more and better information, but may increase the time and paperwork required of line officers to gather the data. Administrative costs will probably also increase over the long run. In addition, line officers could become merely depersonalized information processors. Automation may increase the efficiency of crime control activities, but this may occur at the expense of the informal peacekeeping function that is central to the police role on the streets. Continuing to raise public expectations about the influence of automation on police effectiveness is therefore questionable. It would be desirable for the benefits of automation to exceed the costs and for the peacekeeping role of the police to be retained during the changes that are taking place. 31 references.