NCJ Number
80240
Date Published
1980
Length
109 pages
Annotation
Results of a study by The Dutch Center for Scientific Study and Documentation of the Ministry of Justice on the effectiveness of the investigative techniques used for a burglary project of the local police in Utrecht, Holland, are discussed.
Abstract
The project was initiated in December 1978 to improve police clearance rates for burglary and theft, to develop an improved method of investigation, and to come to grips with large-scale organized crime. The burglary project does not work exclusively with newly reported information but, instead, uses burglary information that has already been accumulated. A project supervisor controls day-to-day activities, and detectives work together more closely than detectives in normal investigations. Project detectives have more time to interrogate subjects than other detectives. Patrol officers are given an active role in project investigations. Study data on reported crimes derive from police files and official records in 1978 and the first half of 1979. Offender data come from the records of the General Documentation of the Ministry of Justice. Data are also taken from interviews with project staff. The study results reveal that clearance rates for burglary increased by 40 percent, although the percentage of thefts solved remained the same at 11 percent. On an average, less time than expected from previous studies was spent in solving individual cases. Because of broadening project goals, the presence of organized criminals could not be determined. Findings do show that a relatively large number of drug abusers were arrested. Both detectives and patrol officers regarded participation in the project beneficial because the information system, daily meetings, and the presence of a project coordinator made it possible to accomplish a great deal of work. Detectives considered principal advantages of the project to be the increased amount of time allowed to work on cases and to hold suspects in police detention and the administrative support supplied. Patrol officers felt that they gained valuable experience in criminal investigation. However, both groups felt that concentrating on burglaries alone could lead to one-sidedness and boredom. Notes, tables, and appendixes containing burglary classifications as well as descriptions of work activities are supplied.