NCJ Number
58588
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS VIDEO CASSETTE FROM THE NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXECUTIVE TRAINING PROGRAM OF ADVANCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES INDICATES THE NECESSITY FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE ADDITION OF NEW PERSONNEL FOR EXPANDED SERVICES.
Abstract
WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO MOST POLICE DEPARTMENTS, THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING RESOURCES HAS BECOME CONSPICUOUS. POLICE ADMINISTRATORS CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO PERMIT THEIR INVESTIGATORS TO FUNCTION WITHOUT IMMEDIATE SUPERVISION AND WITHOUT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR INTERDEPENDENCE WITH THE DEPARTMENT. THE INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY DETECTIVES CANNOT BE REDUNDANT OF THE WORK OF PATROLMEN. A SYSTEMS OVERVIEW OF EACH DEPARTMENT SHOULD EXAMINE THE PROCEDURES OF INITIAL INVESTIGATION, CASE SCREENING, AND POLICE-PROSECUTOR RELATIONS TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFICIENT USE OF PERSONNEL. BECAUSE PATROL OFFICERS ARE BECOMING BETTER EDUCATED, THEIR FUNCTION OUGHT TO BE ALTERED TO REFLECT THEIR CAPABILITIES FOR CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS AND COLLECTING EVIDENCE, RATHER THAN ROUTINELY CALLING IN DETECTIVES. A BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA STUDY INDICATED THAT 80 PERCENT OF THE CASES COULD BE SCREENED OUT BY MEANS OF CONSULTATION WITH SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL PRIOR TO IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION. PERSONNEL MAY THEN BE REASSIGNED TO HIGHER PRIORITY CASES. THE SUCCESS OF A REORGANIZATION PROGRAM IS DEPENDENT ON THE PARTICIPATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND LINE OFFICERS IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS. COMMUNICATION OF THE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IS ESSENTIAL. (TWK).