NCJ Number
228144
Journal
Criminal Justice Policy Review Volume: 20 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 274-289
Date Published
September 2009
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the perceived risk of a terrorist attack, terrorism preparedness activities, and organizational capacity among law enforcement agencies in Illinois.
Abstract
Highlights of the results include: (1) Illinois law enforcement agencies did not perceive a high likelihood of their jurisdiction being targeted for a terrorist attack; (2) in Illinois, agency size does matter in shaping terrorism and homeland security perceptions reported; (3) on the whole, agencies perceived a low likelihood that their jurisdiction would be the target of a terrorist incident in the next 5 years; (4) the smallest agencies (0-10 fulltime sworn officers) reported having taken fewer steps post-September 11 to enhance preparations for terrorism-related emergencies; and (5) larger agencies expressed significantly greater perceptions of organizational capacity to respond to large-scale emergencies. Previous studies show that organization or governmental leaders tend to view the risk of a terrorist attack as relatively low. Police departments have also taken a number of preparedness measures, yet perceived organizational capacity is wanting. This study contributed to this body of research by examining homeland security preparedness among more than 500 law enforcement agencies in Illinois. The study specifically addressed the perceived risk of terrorist attacks, measures taken to improve the organization's ability to prevent and respond to emergencies, and assessments of organizational capacity to deal with such incidents. Tables, notes, and references