NCJ Number
14383
Date Published
1968
Length
165 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE OF POLICE COMMUNICATIONS, THE UTILIZATION OF THE RADIO SPECTRUM PRESENTLY ALLOCATED FOR POLICE USE, AND A PRELIMINARY PROJECTION OF FUTURE RADIO SPECTRUM REQUIREMENTS.
Abstract
THE STUDY AREA ENCOMPASSED SIX ILLINOIS COUNTIES, FOUR WISCONSIN COUNTIES AND THREE INDIANA COUNTIES ALL IN THE GENERAL LAKE MICHIGAN METROPOLITAN AREA. DATA WERE COLLECTED CONCERNING LENGTH (IN SECONDS) OF MESSAGES, RADIO BANDS USED BY THE DEPARTMENTS, DEMOGRAPHIC DATA AND GROWTH POTENTIAL OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND OTHER FACTORS. THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT RADIO CONGESTION ON POLICE CHANNELS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM IN THAT IT IMPAIRS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THERE IS INEQUITY IN THE POPULATIONS SERVED BY A PARTICULAR CHANNEL, THE VOLUME OF MESSAGES ON A PARTICULAR CHANNEL, AND THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS REQUIRED TO SHARE A SINGLE CHANNEL IN RELATION TO THE POPULATION THAT IS SERVED.