MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS

• NCJ Number: 61427
• Author(s): I GREENBERG; R WASSERMAN
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 130 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-013-78
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PROGRAM DESIGN - A GUIDE TO INPLEMENTATION

Annotation

DRAWING UPON THE MCI (MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS) FIELD TEST EXPERIENCE AND AVAILABLE LITERATURE, THIS REPORT OUTLINES A RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF THE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION.

Abstract

THE FIVE MCI MODEL COMPONENTS ARE THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION, CASE SCREENING, MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION, POLICE-PROSECUTOR RELATIONS, AND AN INVESTIGATIVE MONITORING SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH PRELIMINARY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT THE FIELD TEST ACHIEVEMENTS APPEAR TO BE MODEST ALONG EACH OF THREE VALUED DIMENSIONS--RESOURCES SAVED, INVESTIGATIVE EFFICIENCY, AND INVESTIGATIVE EFFECTIVENESS--THE PROGRAM DID SUCCESSFULLY CONSTRUCT A FRAMEWORK FOR GOAL ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS. THUS, MCI SHOULD BE VIEWED AS ONGOING AND EXTENDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KINDS OF INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES THAT HAVE DIRECT IMPLICATIONS FOR EFFICIENCY. CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF MCI INCLUDE COMMITMENT FROM TOP MANAGEMENT, TRAINING, A CALL-SCREENING SYSTEM, A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE SERVICES OF A POLICY ANALYST, AND ASSESSMENT OF THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF MCI. DUE TO THE FIELD TEST EXPERIENCE, THE PROGRAM DESIGN HAS BEEN REVISED. ELEMENTS ADDED TO IMPROVE ALLOCATION EFFICIENCY INCLUDE AN EXPANDED ROLE FOR THE PATROL OFFICER, A SPECIAL REPORTING FORM, A CALL-SCREENING SYSTEM INTENDED TO INCREASE UNCOMMITTED PATROL TIME, AND NEW PROCEDURES FOR PATROL SUPERVISORS. FOR CASE SCREENING, THE ELEMENTS ARE A SYSTEM FOR SCREENING OUT PREDICTABLE 'UNSOLVABLE' CASES, FLEXIBLE SCREENING CRITERIA, A SCREENING MODEL THAT REFLECTS LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE PRIORITIES, AND MORE. INVESTIGATION EFFICIENCY ALSO IS DEPENDENT ON CHANGES IN POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY OUTSIDE THE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION, SUCH AS PERSONNEL AND PROMOTION POLICIES. SUGGESTED POLICY REVISIONS AND GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATING AN MCI PROGRAM ARE GIVEN. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND APPENDIXES (ALTERNATIVE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTIONS AND STRATEGIES AND A SUGGESTED EVALUATION PLAN FOR SELECTED MCI COMPONENTS) ARE INCLUDED.