NCJ Number
91889
Date Published
1979
Length
344 pages
Annotation
This evaluation reports progress of the Portsmouth Police Department (Virginia) under the second phase of its Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program in the areas of improved data collection, analysis, planning, and service delivery.
Abstract
Although all data collection problems have not been resolved and some decisionmakers' information needs remain unmet, field reporting procedures, information flows, field report review processes, and records management have improved. Data analysis for operational planning, strategic and tactical decisionmaking, resource deployment, and monitoring of crime situations have also improved. Furthermore, improved police procedures at crime scenes have led to improvement in the quality of cases prepared for prosecution. Some general areas deserving more attention include upgrading directed patrol activities on a more consistent basis, monitoring crime analysis activities more closely to ensure data quality; upgrading management capabilities of persons who allocate resources; encouraging top management to give lower management levels (sector commanders) the freedom and support to make resource allocation decisions; and monitoring the effect of fixed shifts on patrol officers' job performance and job satisfaction. Finally, continued improvements should be sought in increasing the role of patrol in preliminary investigations and in improving the flow of information between crime analysis, patrol, detective, and crime prevention personnel. Charts, graphs, and tabular data are given. Study instruments are appended.