NCJ Number
394
Journal
EVENT Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (SPRING 1969) Pages: 16-23
Date Published
1969
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE CRIME CONTROL TEAM DEVOTES ITS COMPLETE ATTENTION TO THE CRIME PROBLEM. ONE WAY TO MEASURE QUALITY OF POLICE IS BY THE CLEARANCE RATE.
Abstract
THE LACK OF ANY SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY WITHIN A MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DISTURBING. THE OBJECTIVES OF ANY ORGANIZATION ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE OBTAINED UNLESS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OBTAINING THOSE OBJECTIVES ARE PROPERLY AND DEFINITELY ALLOCATED TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REALIZING THESE OBJECTIVES. THE CRIME CONTROL TEAM IS A BASIC UNIT OF A FORMAL ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE THAT DOES ALLOCATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROLLING CRIME TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS. THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTROLLING CRIME IN A GIVEN GEOGRAPHICAL AREA (THE CONVENTIONAL POLICE BEAT) IS GIVEN TO THE TEAM LEADER WHO, DIVIDES THIS RESPONSIBILITY. BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBERS DURING THEIR DUTY TOUR. THE TEAM HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF ALL OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES (AUTOMOBILE AND CITIZEN SERVICES); HENCE, THEY CAN DEVOTE THEIR COMPLETE ATTENTION TO THE CRIME PROBLEM. MANAGERIAL PRACTICE RECOGNIZES THAT COMPLETE ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT BE ESTABLISHED UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS BEEN ALLOCATED THE RESPONSIBILITY IS GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO CARRY OUT THE TASK IN A MANNER THAT HE FEELS HAS THE GREATEST PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS. THE TEAM LEADER IS GIVEN COMPLETE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW HE WILL DEPLOY HIS OFFICERS. THE INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEMBER DECIDES ON THE SPECIFIC TACTICS THAT HE WILL EMPLOY DURING HIS TOUR OF DUTY.