EVALUATIVE ANALYSIS FOR THE RECONCEPTUALIZATION OF URBAN LAW ENFORCEMENT

• NCJ Number: 53766
• Author(s): J K MEYER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977

Annotation

WAYS IN WHICH RECONCEPTUALIZATION AND EVALUATIVE ANALYSIS CAN BE USED TO IMPROVE POLICE SERVICES ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

PUBLIC SERVICE AGENCIES NEED TO BREAK OUT OF THEIR REMEDIAL, REACTIVE ORIENTATION IN DEALING WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS. RECONCEPTUALIZING THE THRUST OF A SERVICE AGENCY IS A MEANS OF ALTERING PATTERNS OF SERVICE SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION. BY USING ONGOING DATA COLLECTION ACTIVITIES COMMON TO MOST PUBLIC AGENCIES AND BY GENERATING NEW DATA, EVALUATIVE ANALYSIS PROVIDES A NECESSARY SUPPORT FOR THE TASK OF RECONCEPTUALIZATION. ONE WAY THAT THE PROCESS OF RECONCEPTUALIZATION CAN BE INITIATED IS THROUGH AN EXAMINATION OF THE ASSUMPTIONS ON WHICH CURRENT OPERATIONS ARE BASED. AN EXAMPLE OF THIS PROCESS IS THE ONGOING CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF TRADITIONAL POLICE PATROL PRACTICES. THIS ANALYSIS HAS SHOWN THAT ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF POLICE RESPONSE AND CRIME CONTROL MADE 200 YEARS AGO STILL GUIDE POLICE PATROL PRACTICES. AN EXAMPLE OF THE USE OF EVALUATIVE ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE POLICE SERVICES IS FOUND IN THE KANSAS CITY, MO., POLICE DEPARTMENT YOUTH UNIT'S EXAMINATION OF ITS ROLE WITHIN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. HAVING IDENTIFIED A NEED TO IMPROVE YOUTH OFFICERS' DISPOSITION DECISIONS ON JUVENILE INTAKE AFTER ARREST, THE UNIT UNDERTOOK AN INTERMEDIATE EVALUATIVE ANALYSIS OF OFFENDER DATA COLLECTED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND DEVELOPED A DECISIONMAKING AID FOR ITS OFFICERS. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF RECONCEPTUALIZATION SUPPORTED BY DATA ANALYSIS IS THE KANSAS CITY DEPARTMENT'S EFFORT TO IMPROVE ITS INTERVENTION IN DOMESTIC DISPUTES. BY ANALYZING ITS RECORDS, THE DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT MANY INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC HOMICIDE AND ASSAULT OCCURRED AT HOMES VISITED ON PRIOR OCCASIONS BY POLICE IN RESPONSE TO DOMESTIC DISPUTE CALLS. THIS FINDING INVALIDATED THE ASSUMPTION THAT CRIMES OF VIOLENCE IN THE HOME ARE NOT PREVENTABLE, AND RESULTED IN CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE INTERVENTION PROCEDURES AND TRAINING. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)