MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS PROGRAM - FINAL EVALUATION REPORT - MONTGOMERY CO (MD)

• NCJ Number: 61360
• Author(s): R I MACFARLANE
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 275 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-03-0005
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Montgomery Cty Police Dept
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS ARE PRESENTED FROM THE EVALUATION OF A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS IN THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD; POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

IN NOVEMBER 1976, THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF POLICE RECEIVED AN 18-MONTH GRANT FROM LEAA TO IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE A DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. THIS GRANT, ENTITLED MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS (MCI), WAS FORMALLY IMPLEMENTED IN THE SILVER SPRING DISTRICT IN JUNE 1977. THE MCI PROGRAM HAD FIVE COMPONENTS: (1) ENHANCEMENT OF THE PATROL ROLE, (2) CASE SCREENING, (3) MANAGING THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION, (4) POLICE-PROSECUTOR RELATIONS, AND (5) THE MONITORING SYSTEM. COLLECTIVELY, PROGRAM ACTIVITIES FOR EACH OF THE COMPONENTS WERE DESIGNED TO BRING A NEW SYSTEMS APPROACH TO MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. A 12-MONTH EVALUATION (OCTOBER 1977 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1978) WAS CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THE DEGREE OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. THE RESULTS OF PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ON SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES, AND THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON PERFORMANCE. EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY MEASURES COLLECTED FROM THE SILVER SPRING DISTRICT WERE COMPARED WITH SIMILAR MEASURES GATHERED FROM A PRESELECTED CONTROL AREA. DATA SOURCES INCLUDED A SAMPLE 2,075 SELECTED PART 1 CASES CHOSEN THROUGH A STRATIFIED SAMPLING DESIGN OVER A 12-MONTH PERIOD. THESE CASES WERE TRACED THROUGH THE ENTIRE INVESTIGATIVE AND ADJUDICATORY PROCESS. POLICE OFFICER ATTITUDINAL DATA AND VICTIM PERCEPTIONS WERE ALSO MEASURED. THE OVERALL IMPACT OF MCI WAS DETERMINED BY ANALYZING ARRESTS, CLEARANCE, PROSECUTIONS, AND CONVICTIONS. BASED ON EVALUATION FINDINGS, DEPARTMENTAL ADOPTION OF THE MCI PROGRAM WAS RECOMMENDED, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MCI UNITS AT EACH DISTRICT STATION SUGGESTED, WITH A MAJOR CRIMES UNIT RETAINED AT HEADQUARTERS TO HANDLE ALL DEATH AND RAPE INVESTIGATIONS. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED AND THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE VICTIM SURVEY ON INVESTIGATIVE PROCEDURES. (RCB)