NCJ Number
87506
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 43 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1976) Pages: 20-24,74-77
Date Published
1976
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Rand's conclusion that half of the police investigative effort can be eliminated witout lessening investigative effectiveness is derived from a study marred by a limited data base, procedural errors, and conclusions that do not follow from the data.
Abstract
In the Rand report on the criminal investigation process, references are made to problems inherent in the data, in the measurement of certain variables, and in the operational definitions of variables. Because of problems of lack of control, accuracy, and consistency, most researchers would have refused to use the data which form the basis of the report; however, Rand, even though being aware of severe data problems, proceeds to present conclusions from the data. Rand's entire analysis of how crimes are solved was obtained from six police agencies, and by far the majority of the information was obtained from one agency -- the Kansas City Police Department. In examining the daily investigative routine, the Kansas City department is acknowledged to be the only data source. In addition to using limited and unreliable data for drawing conclusions that purport to apply to criminal investigations nationwide, the conclusions do not follow logically from the data presented. Further, the data upon which the conclusions purport to be based are quantitative, so little if any consideration is given to factors that determine the quality of investigations. Ninety-nine footnotes are provided.