NCJ Number
50310
Date Published
1978
Length
74 pages
Annotation
THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS PROJECT WAS ASSESSED FROM A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DELIVERY STANDPOINT DEPENDING UPON STAFF INPUT, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY QUESTIONNAIRES, AND ANALYSIS OF PROJECT AND STATE PLANNING AGENCY FILES.
Abstract
THE FOLLOWING EVALUATION OBJECTIVES WERE IDENTIFIED TO INDICATE THE STUDY'S SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY: (1) THE CONDUCTING OF A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF EFFORTS WITHIN THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS FUNDED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION (LEAA); (2) THE DETERMINATION OF PROJECT EFFICIENCY IN MEETING MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES SET FORTH IN THE 1976 LEAA GRANT; (3) THE DETERMINATION OF THE USEFULNESS OF THE STATEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS PLAN IN ASSESSING RESOURCES AND NEEDS WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN FLORIDA; (4) THE DETERMINATION OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY PERCEPTIONS OF THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY EFFORTS OF THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS; AND (5) AN EVALUATION OF THE QUALIFICATIONS OF PROJECT STAFF TO PROVIDE SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL AGENCIES. A TOTAL OF $703,119 IN FEDERAL AND STATE RESOURCES WERE EXPENDED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE STATE IN DEVELOPING AND GUIDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS. THE ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATIONS' PUBLIC SAFETY SECTION PROVIDES THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IN THE STATE WITH QUALITY SERVICE. THE SECTION'S COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERS ARE RESPONSIVE TO REQUESTS AND INQUIRIES FROM ALL AGENCIES. AT LEAST HALF OF ALL AGENCIES, HOWEVER, ARE UNAWARE OF THE DIVISION'S LEGAL MANDATE AND AUTHORITY, AND MOST AGENCIES DO NOT FEEL THAT THEIR COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS HAVE BEEN THOROUGHLY ASSESSED. RECOMMENDATIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE EXISTING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING APPROACH ARE OFFERED. RELEVANT FORMS AND DESIGN INFORMATION ARE CONTAINED IN APPENDIXES. (DEP)