NCJ Number
16611
Date Published
1973
Length
52 pages
Annotation
THIS PROJECT, PART OF THE POLICE-COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES PROJECT OPERATED BY THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE, SET UP A SYSTEM WHEREBY OFFICERS COULD REFER RESIDENTS INVOLVED IN NONENFORCEMENT CALLS TO APPROPRIATE SOCIAL AGENCIES.
Abstract
THE MAJOR GOAL OF THE POLICE-REFERRAL PROJECT WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BETTER COMMUNICATION, COORDINATION AND COOPERATION BETWEEN SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND THE POLICE. SEVERAL INDICATORS WERE USED TO MEASURE THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS GOAL: CHANGES IN REFERRAL PATTERNS OF POLICE, CHANGES IN POLICE KNOWLEDGE OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, CHANGES IN POLICE ATTITUDES. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT, CONTRARY TO COMMON ASSERTIONS, THE CALLS WHICH POLICE RECEIVED INCLUDED ONLY A SMALL PROPORTION (10 PER CENT) OF NONENFORCEMENT CALLS WITH POTENTIAL FOR REFERRAL. HOWEVER, DATA INDICATED AN INCREASE IN THE REFERRAL MADE BY POLICE OFFICERS. THE TYPE OF NONENFORCEMENT CALLS WHICH OFFICERS RECEIVED MOST WERE ALCOHOL-RELATED, DOMESTIC DISPUTES, JUVENILE PROBLEMS, SHOPLIFTING AND HOUSING DISPUTES. EVALUATORS FOUND THAT WHILE THE PROJECT ACHIEVED POSITIVE RESULTS, THE FIVE AGENCIES SELECTED FOR REFERRAL PURPOSES DID NOT PROVIDE THE SERVICES OR HOURS OF COVERAGE NEEDED BY RESIDENTS AND POLICE. THE PROJECT ALSO SPENT TOO MUCH TIME GATHERING CLIENT FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION. RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN THE OPERATION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT ARE INTENDED TO CORRECT THIS STIUATION. A COPY OF THE EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE APPEARS IN THE APPENDIX.