NCJ Number
43337
Date Published
Unknown
Length
246 pages
Annotation
A CRITICAL SURVEY IS MADE OF THE LITERATURE ON CONSOLIDATION (DEFINED AS ANY INTERJURISDICTIONAL SHARING OR TRANSFER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY) AND INTERJURISDICTIONAL CONTRACT ARRANGEMENTS.
Abstract
CONSOLIDATIONIST AND CONTRACTUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED BY A NUMBER OF REFORM GROUPS AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE GROWING CRIME PROBLEM. THESE GROUPS SEE FRAGMENTATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A MAJOR DIFFICULTY TODAY. THIS SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE EVALUATES THEORETICAL AND ACTUAL ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST SUCH ARRANGEMENTS. METHODS OF CONSOLIDATING OR CONTRACTING, WITH THE PRACTICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED, ARE REVIEWED. ACTUAL CONSOLIDATION PROGRAMS ARE DESCRIBED, ALONG WITH A DISCUSSION OF BENEFITS AND PROBLEMS. CHECKLISTS GIVE SPECIFICATIONS FOR A LAW ENFORCEMENT CONTRACT AND FOR A CONSOLIDATION AGREEMENT. STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL LAWS AND RELATIONSHIPS ARE CONSIDERED. OF THE SEVERAL PROGRAMS IN THE U.S., ONLY MARION COUNTY, INDIANA, HAS BEEN ABLE TO POINT TO A LOWERED PROPERTY TAX RATE. SOME OTHER PROGRAMS HAVE ACTUALLY INCREASED COSTS, ALTHOUGH THEIR SUPPORTERS POINT TO IMPROVED LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. APPENDIXES GIVE A SUMMARY OF PROS AND CONS FOR TOTAL, PARTIAL, AND FUNCTIONAL CONSOLIDATION PLUS VARIOUS CONTRACTING HYPOTHESES. A 29-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED.