NCJ Number
60377
Date Published
1979
Length
42 pages
Annotation
THE HOST PROGRAM, UNDER WHICH CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS VISIT SELECTED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS IN OTHER GEOGRAPHIC AREAS IN ORDER TO LEARN DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PROJECTS, IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM, DEVELOPED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WAS SIGNED TO PROMOTE THE SHARING OF ADVANCED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES. HOST SITES WERE DRAWN FROM LEAA'S EXEMPLARY PROJECTS. INCLUDED WERE SUCH PROJECTS AS THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT'S STREET CRIME UNIT AND THE DES MOINES, IOWA, RAPE CARE CENTER. ANALYSIS OF RESPONSES FROM 54 VISITORS TO 8 HOST SITES SHOWED THAT 83 PERCENT ADOPTED THE HOST PROJECT OBSERVED OR ITS TECHNIQUES FOR USE IN THEIR OWN JURISDICTIONS. IN ADDITION, 57 PERCENT OF THOSE ADOPTING PROJECTS OR TECHNIQUES REPORTED BENEFITS INCLUDING IMPROVED PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, COST SAVINGS, AND INCREASED COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE. MOREOVER, MOST VISITORS SHARED THEIR EXPERIENCES AND INFORMATION WITH OFFICIALS OTHER THAN THOSE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THEIR OWN OPERATIONS. THE HOST PROGRAM HAS THEREFORE BEEN EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE IN TRANSFERRING CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICES AMONG AGENCIES. TO INCREASE THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT (1) OFFICIALS ESTABLISHING SIMILAR PROGRAMS RECEIVE PRIORITY IN MAKING VISITS, (2) SOME PROJECTS REQUIRE CLEARER SELECTION CRITERIA FOR VISITORS, AND (3) FRAUD UNITS BE ADDED TO HOST SITES. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ECONOMIC CRIME WORKSHOP, DESCRIPTION OF THE HOST PROGRAM AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ITS EXPANSION, FOOTNOTES, PUBLICATIONS LIST, AND A LIST OF HOST VISITORS BY PROJECT ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)