NCJ Number
61415
Date Published
1978
Length
30 pages
Annotation
THE NATIONAL MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (NMS) IS DESCRIBED; OBJECTIVES, INFORMATION SOURCES, DATA COLLECTION, AND SURVEY RESULTS RELATIVE TO NINE KEY LAW ENFORCEMENT OCCUPATIONS ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE NMS WAS CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO A REQUIREMENT INCLUDED IN THE 1973 AMENDMENTS TO THE SAFE STREETS ACT PROVIDING FOR A SURVEY OF EXISTING AND FUTURE PERSONNEL NEEDS IN THE FIELD OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OF THE ADEQUACY OF FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL PROGRAMS TO MEET SUCH NEEDS. MAJOR STUDY OBJECTIVES WERE TO ASSESS THE ADEQUACY OF PERSONNEL RESOURCES, TO ASSESS TRAINING AND PERSONNEL NEEDS, TO RECOMMEND PRIORITIES FOR ALLOCATION OF LEAA FUNDS FOR TRAINING AND ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, TO DESIGN PROCEDURES FOR USE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANPOWER PLANNING, AND TO IDENTIFY NEEDED CHANGES IN PERSONNEL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. FIELD VISITS WERE CONDUCTED TO APPROXIMATELY 200 STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES IN 10 STATES WHERE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED REGARDING OCCUPATIONAL TASKS, TRAINING NEEDS, AND RELATED ASPECTS OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. TWENTY KEY OCCUPATIONS WERE EVALUATED IN THE FIRST STUDY WHICH USED EXTENSIVE INTERVIEWS AND QUESTIONNAIRES. OF THE 20 OCCUPATIONS EXAMINED. 9 WERE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT INCLUDING POLICE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, MID-LEVEL MANAGER, PATROL LINE SUPERVISOR, INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES LINE SUPERVISOR, PATROL OFFICER, DETECTIVE, POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR, POLICE PLANNER, AND CRIME SCENE ANALYST. ANALYSIS OF TASK CHECK LIST RESPONSES USED DURING THE FIELD INVESTIGATIONS REVEALED THAT 75 PERCENT OF THE INCUMBENTS WERE GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE TRAINING THEY HAD RECEIVED. SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING WERE BOTH CONSIDERED VALUABLE. A NUMBER OF KNOWLEDGE OR SKILL DEFICIENCIES WERE EVIDENT. THE NUMBER, LEVEL, AND CONTENT OF THESE DEFICIENCIES VARIED BY OCCUPATION. FEW FUTURE CHANGES ARE ANTICIPATED IN TASK PROFILES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THOSE OF PATROL OFFICERS. CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE PROFILES ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR IN ALL NINE OCCUPATIONS. HIGHER EDUCATION AMONG PATROL RECRUITS IS LIKELY TO ALTER THE SHAPE OF THE OCCUPATION IN THE FUTURE. EXHIBITS AND AN APPENDIX ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAPER. (LWM)