NCJ Number
218569
Journal
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2007 Pages: 159-173
Date Published
May 2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the organizational development of American State and local law enforcement agencies.
Abstract
Results indicate that changes have occurred in two main areas: (1) internal structural changes, and (2) organizational boundary changes. Changes in organizational boundaries continue to develop in terms of how police organizations interact with one another and regarding aspects of their social environment. However, changes in internal structures, such as the development of counterterrorism units, have only occurred in major metropolitan areas and within State police agencies. The authors note that only those agencies with access to adequate funding have been able to make internal structural changes. The changes noted in organizational boundaries were more widespread and involved enhanced communication and cooperation among police agencies, particularly in terms of information sharing. Police agencies are also changing the way they interact with other groups and the community. This has been done mainly as a way of gathering terrorism intelligence and also as a way of communicating to the public that something is being done to keep them safe. Future research should employ different types of methodologies, such as surveys and interviews, to investigate post-September 11 police organizational and structural change. The research involved a content analysis of two practitioner magazines, “The Police Chief: The Professional Voice of Law Enforcement” and “Sheriff,” during the years 1999 through 2004. The review produced a total of 108 magazines and 1,552 published articles. The content analysis made use of ATLAS.ti 5.0 computer software that aids in the management and analysis of qualitative data. References