NCJ Number
112160
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 36 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 50-53
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A police planning unit provides departments with an information collection and analysis capability that can evaluate program effectiveness and aid in allocation of scarce resources.
Abstract
The unit should have a mixture of law enforcement and planning expertise. Officers assigned to a planning unit should have at least 5 years of experience as an officer and a rank of first-level supervisor or above. The officer also should have rapport with other officers and an ability to analyze situations thoroughly without arriving at too hasty a conclusion. Civilian candidates should have a graduate degree in business or public administration or a social science, with specializations in psychology or sociology. Coursework in public-sector planning and police sciences is an advantage. Also important are courses in research design and statistics. Whether the unit leader is a sworn officer or a civilian, he or she must have a sound understanding of the goals of the organization, the planning process, and the needs of the professional staff. Support staff also must be carefully selected and should include a secretary-receptionist and research assistants as needed. The unit should report directly to the police chief, but it must also be regarded as politically neutral within the agency. Planning units should be located for visibility to promote interaction between the unit and street officers.