NCJ Number
27655
Journal
Operations Research Volume: 23 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY-JUNE 1975) Pages: 452-474
Date Published
1975
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER ADDRESSES ISSUES CONCERNED WITH THE MEASURES COMMONLY USED TO EVALUATE ANTICRIME PROGRAMS AND PROPOSES DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH ON IMPROVED MEASURES.
Abstract
SINCE THE POLICE ARE USUALLY SEEN AS THE MAIN CRIME CONTROL AGENCY, THE PAPER FIRST DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EVALUATING THE POLICE AND EVALUATING CRIME CONTROL PROGRAMS. FIVE MEASURES USED TO EVALUATE SUCH PROGRAMS ARE THEN ANALYZED: CRIME RATE, CLEARANCE RATE, ARREST RATE, POLICE RESPONSE TIME, AND CRIME SERIOUSNESS INDEX. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THESE MEASURES ARE EXAMINED. DIRECTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH ON OUTPUT MEASURES FOR CRIME REDUCTION MEASURES ARE INVESTIGATED. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS A NEW MEASURE OF CRIME, LIKE A CRIME SERIOUSNESS INDEX BUT BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE COMPLETE TAXONOMY OF CRIME AND THE DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN AND EXPLICATION OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF HARM CAUSED BY CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)