NCJ Number
45671
Date Published
1977
Length
51 pages
Annotation
DATA FROM A SURVEY OF POLICE AGENCIES IN 80 STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREAS ARE EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF STATE LAWS ON INTERJURISDICTIONAL COOPERATION.
Abstract
TWO COMPETING SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ON THE EFFECTS THAT STATE LAWS MAY HAVE ON COOPERATION AMONG POLICE AGENCIES ARE OUTLINED. THE STATUS OF STATE LEGISLATION REGARDING POLICE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IS EXAMINED. SURVEY DATA ARE USED TO EVALUATE THE COMPETING HYPOTHESES ON THE EFFECTS OF STATE LAWS, AND IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS FOR IMPROVING COOPERATION AMONG POLICE AGENCIES ARE CONSIDERED. THE DATA SUGGEST THAT STATE AUTHORIZATION IS NOT A NECESSARY CONDITION FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL ACTIVTIES. LOCAL COOPERATIVE ORGANIZATIONS, RATHER THAN STATE LAWS, APPEAR TO PLAY THE PREDOMINANT ROLE IN MUTUAL AID ACTIVITIES. STATE LAWS DO AFFECT LOCAL COOPERATION AND, THEREFORE, HAVE AN INDIRECT EFFECT ON INTERJURISDICTIONAL ASSISTANCE BY POLICE AGENCIES. RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE THREE MAJOR VARIABLES -- STATE LAW, LOCAL ORGANIZATION, AND MUTUAL AID -- ARE MODIFIED BY FACTORS IN THE ENVIRONMENT, I.E., BY THE STRUCTURE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE INDUSTRY AND BY THE SERVICE CONDITIONS THAT EACH AGENCY FACES. SUPPORTING DATA AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)