ECONOMIC APPROACH TO THE ALLOCATION OF POLICE RESOURCES

• NCJ Number: 9139
• Author(s): J F GIERTZ
• Date Published: 1970
• Length: 128 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

EXISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPENDITURE PATTERNS IN LARGE CITIES AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CRITERIA FOR OPTIMAL ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FOR POLICE PROTECTION.

Abstract

MARGINAL CONDITIONS FOR THE DECISION VARIABLES OF THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH MINIMIZE THE TOTAL COST OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WERE DERIVED. THE DECISION MODEL TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE MORE COMPLEX SITUATION WHERE DIFFERENT POLICE RESOURCES MUST BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE DIFFERENT DISTRICTS OF THE CITY. THE ANALYSIS WAS APPLIED TO AN ACTUAL DECISION PROBLEM FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO EXPLAIN THE EXPENDITURE DECISIONS FOR POLICE PROTECTION IN MAJOR CITIES BY DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE COMMUNITIES. VARIABLES SUCH AS THE LEVEL OF INCOME, THE POPULATION DENSITY, THE PERCENTAGE OF NON-WHITE POPULATION, THE CRIME RATE, AND THE PERCENTAGE OF HOME-OWNERS WERE ALL FOUND TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT EFFECT ON THE LEVEL OF EXPENDITURE. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE DETERMINANTS OF EXPENDITURE IN THE SOUTH WERE SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THE DETERMINANTS IN THE OTHER THREE REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)