Crime Analysis Unit Survey (From Comprehensive Evaluation of Phase One of the Virginia Beach, Virginia Police Department's Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program, P 212-270, 1980, by Wolfgang Pindur et al - See NCJ-73102)

• NCJ Number: 73109
• Author(s): W Pindur; A Nadkarni; J Jones
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 59 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Virginia Beach Division of Police
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ-73109 is available on microfiche as NCJ-73102.

Annotation

The full-time sworn officers of the Virginia Beach, Va., Police Department were surveyed to determine their perceptions about the department's Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) and to assess the flow, frequency, and level of communications between officers and CAU personnel.

Abstract

The questionnaire for uniformed officers contained 31 items; the one for investigative officers, 19 items. Two hundred and ten questionnaires were completed and returned. Almost all (98 percent) of the respondents rated the CAU's performance positively; 183 officers rated it as excellent or good. Similarly, most agreed that the CAU performs an important function in the department and were familiar with the types of information the CAU can provide. About three-fifths of the respondents made contact with the CAU or were contacted by crime analysts from one to five times a month. The CAU usually provided the requested information, but did not always respond soon enough to meet the requesting officers' needs. Almost all of the officers felt that it is important to prepare field interview cards on suspicious individuals and activities; these cards were submitted to the CAU more frequently than any other type of information. Most officers received the bulletins distributed by the CAU and felt that this information was useful. Officers in the Uniformed Division had more favorable attitudes toward the CAU than did officers in the other divisions. Officers in the Third Precinct were more positive toward the CAU than were the officers in the other two precincts. Tables and lists of actual responses are included. This survey is part of a larger evaluation of the department's Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program, which was designed to upgrade the patrol system, focus efforts on serious crimes and crimes committed by serious offenders, and increase citizen satisfaction with the department. (Author abstract modified)