NCJ Number
99829
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This description of 'intelligent' computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems encompasses CAD management of service demands and the related innovations of mobile digital communications and automatic vehicle location (AVL)
Abstract
The article initially depicts hypothetical service calls and dispatch operations to illustrate some of the current and potential uses of new technology in collecting, verifying, and organizing the information needed for improved police dispatching and response to service calls. This is followed by a description of 'intelligent' CAD systems, which acquire sensory information inputs from 911 calls and police mobile-to-base communications as well as AVL information. A description of how CAD systems manage service demands focuses on how these systems can assist operators in obtaining correct addresses and determining the urgency of the service demand. The article then briefly describes the technology of an AVL system and reports on a National Institute of Justice study that tested the experimental uses of AVL systems. Features of the AVL system are outlined, and study findings suggest implications for preventive patrol. Eight references are listed.