NCJ Number
63011
Date Published
1972
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EMERGENCY NUMBER 911 DISCUSSES ITS DEVELOPMENT, PROBLEMS IN REALIZATION, AND THE ADVANTAGES OF ITS WIDESPREAD USE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH THE EMERGENCY NUMBER 911 WAS PUT INTO OPERATION 4 YEARS AGO, LESS THAN 200 OF THE 8,000 COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOW BEING SERVED. IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF COMPLACENCY BY LOCAL TELEPHONE COMPANIES, PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY RIVALRY, AND BY HESITANCY ON THE PART OF POLICE CHIEFS AND CITY OFFICIALS. CURRENTLY, 911 IS EVOLVING AS A POLICE EMERGENCY NUMBER BECAUSE 85 TO 95 PERCENT OF ALL EMERGENCY CALLS ARE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. FURTHERMORE, PROBLEMS OF MIXING POLICE CALLS WITH CALLS FOR OTHER AGENCIES AND OF ESTABLISHING A MUNICIPAL EMERGENCY MESSAGE CENTER ARE DIMINISHED OR ELIMINATED WITH 911. FEATURES THAT CAN IMPROVE 911 RESPONSIVENESS INCLUDE DIAL TONE FOR PAY TELEPHONES, EXCHANGE COLOR CODING, AND AUTOMATIC NUMBER IDENTIFICATION (ANI), CALLED PARTY HOLD, AND DISCONNECT. IT IS IMPORTANT HOWEVER, THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 911 SYSTEM CONTINUE, WHETHER OR NOT ANI CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. ESTABLISHMENT OF A 911 SYSTEM SHOULD HAVE THREE POSITIVE EFFECTS ON POLICE ORGANIZATION: (1) PROMOTE COORDINATION AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF RESOURCES; (2) PROVIDE BACKUP FALL-SAFE CAPABILITY IN THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM; AND (3) LEAD TO THE INCORPORATION OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS INTO ITS OPERATION. IN ADDITION, 911 IN LARGER CITIES LEADS TO A MORE EFFICIENT USE OF PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT AND IS ALSO THE FIRST STEP IN DEVELOPING IMPROVED POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIVENESS IN TIME OF EMERGENCY. THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION ALSO ESTIMATED THAT, WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE WITHIN 60 SECONDS OF THE CRIME IN PROCESS, THERE IS A 70 PERCENT ARREST RATE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AOP)