EVALUATIVE RESEARCH AND THE POLICE (FROM INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON POLICE RESEARCH - FINAL REPORT, OCTOBER 1976, BY LODE VAN OUTRIVE AND SAMIR RIZKALLA - SEE NCJ-49588)

• NCJ Number: 49599
• Author(s): S RIZKALLA
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 64 pages
• Corporate Author: Georgetown University; Universite de Montreal, Centre International de Criminologie Comparee
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON POLICE RESEARCH, LOUVAIN, BELGIUM, MAY-JUNE 1976

Annotation

AN EVALUATION MODEL TO DETERMINE THE COST-BENEFIT OF POLICE OPERATIONS IS DEVELOPED FROM A STUDY OF AUTO THEFTS IN MONTREAL, CANADA.

Abstract

THE MODEL DEVELOPED FIRST DEFINES THE GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICE OPERATIONS. IMMEDIATE GOALS FOR EACH PHASE OF THESE OPERATIONS ARE THEN SET ALONG THE LINES SPECIFIED. THE MEANS TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES ARE THEN CAREFULLY EXAMINED. TIME/BUDGET ANALYSES WILL DETERMINE THE INPUT, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SPECIFY, FOR EACH OPERATION, THE AMOUNT OF WORK TIME, MAN/HOURS, AND EQUIPMENT/HOURS NECESSARY FOR THE OPERATIONS CONDUCTED. RESULTS ARE STUDIED FOR EACH FUNCTION TO DETERMINE THEIR PERTINENCE WITH REGARD TO THE INTENDED GOALS, GIVEN THE TIME INVESTED. WHILE THIS ANALYTICAL APPROACH WAS USED TO EXAMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AUTO THEFT INVESTIGATIONS, IT IS BELIEVED THE MODEL IS ADAPTABLE TO OTHER CRIMES. IT IS ARGUED THAT ITS PRINCIPAL ADVANTAGE IS ITS ALLOWANCE OF AN INDEPTH TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AS AN AUTONOMOUS EVALUATIVE STEP, INDEPENDENT OF FINANCIAL CALCULATIONS, EVEN THOUGH THESE CAN ADD AN INTERESTING ELEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. THE METHODOLOGY AS APPLIED TO AUTO THEFT IN MONTREAL IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. IT IS NOTED THAT THE USE OF THE MODEL ALSO LEADS TO THE PRESENTATION OF ALTERNATIVE, LESS COSTLY STRATEGIES OR SOLUTIONS THAT CAN PROVIDE EQUIVALENT RESULTS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)