NCJ Number
51924
Date Published
1978
Length
126 pages
Annotation
AS PART OF A LARGER EVALUATION, A TELEPHONE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE CITIZEN SATISFACTION WITH POLICE SERVICES IN LAWRENCE, KAN. THE 537 RESPONDENTS SHOWED STRONG SUPPORT, THOUGH IMPROVEMENTS WERE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. THE FINAL SURVEY INSTRUMENT CONTAINED DEMOGRAPHIC AND VICTIMIZATION ITEMS AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING CITIZEN ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE PERFORMANCE. RANDOM SAMPLES OF LAWRENCE CITIZENS WHO RECEIVED THE QUESTIONNAIRE WERE DRAWN FROM THE DECEMBER 1977 TELEPHONE DIRECTORY AND POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT FILES. THE REPLIES SHOWED THAT MOST CITIZENS FELT THAT THE LAWRENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS DOING A FAIR OR GOOD JOB, AND IN SOME GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS A GOOD OR EXCELLENT RATING WAS RECEIVED FROM MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS. MOST RESIDENTS FELT THAT THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS WERE SAFE, ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY. THOSE WHO HAD BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME AND THOSE WHO WERE DISSATISFIED WITH POLICE SERVICES TENDED TO BE MALE, DIVORCED, FROM LOWER INCOME FAMILIES, AND MEMBERS OF A MINORITY GROUP. THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS WERE MADE FOR IMPROVING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT: BETTER PUBLIC RELATIONS (10 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS), GREATER POLICE RESOURCES (10 PERCENT), MORE PATROLS (13 PERCENT), MORE TRAFFIC POLICE (8 PERCENT), AND GREATER COURTESY (5 PERCENT). ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION WAS MENTIONED BY 3 PERCENT AND IMPROVING RESPONSE TIME BY 6 PERCENT. TABLES PRESENT THE GEOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN OF RESPONDENTS, SUMMARIES OF THE SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND VICTIMIZATION DATA, AND QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES. APPENDIXES PROVIDE THE CITIZEN'S SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND A BUSINESS SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE, A SUMMARY OF THE OPEN-ENDED COMMENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS FROM EACH POLICE PLANNING AREA MAPPED BY CATEGORY. (GLR)