INVOLVEMENT AND USE OF SENIOR CITIZENS IN THE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ICAP (INTEGRATED CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROGRAM)

• NCJ Number: 47826
• Author(s): B B BIRD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 78 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-002-76)
• Corporate Author: Public Admin Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE USE OF SENIOR CITIZENS AS DATA PROCESSORS IN THE SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED.

Abstract

MOST OF THE 14 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES ARE WOMEN AGED IN THEIR MID TO LATE 60'S. MANY HAVE HAD PRIOR EMPLOYMENT, USUALLY INVOLVING OFFICE WORK. INITIALLY, THE SENIOR CITIZENS WERE HIRED TO GATHER DATA FROM CRIME/ INCIDENT REPORTS AND MANUALLY CODE THE DATA ONTO OTHER FORMS. HOWEVER, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE EMPLOYEES COULD HANDLE MORE DIFFICULT TASKS. AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION, SENIOR CITIZENS WERE USING COMPUTER TERMINALS TO MAKE ON-LINE ENTRY OF DATA, DOING QUALITY CONTROL CHECKS ON DATA, PERFORMING RUDIMENTARY ANALYSIS TASKS, AND ASSUMING A NUMBER OF OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT. THE INFORMAL TRAINING OF THE ELDERLY EMPLOYEES AND PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING, ASSIGNING, AND SUPERVISING THEM ARE DESCRIBED. THE DEPARTMENT FOUND SENIOR CITIZENS TO BE COMPETENT, WILLING WORKERS AND OTHER UNITS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT ARE FINDING THAT THERE ARE ASSIGNMENTS THAT CAN BE HANDLED ROUTINELY BE SENIOR CITIZENS. THE USE OF SENIOR CITIZEN EMPLOYEES ALSO PROVED TO BE COST EFFECTIVE. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTING SENIOR CITIZEN EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE OFFERED. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED. (LKM)