NCJ Number
70040
Date Published
1976
Length
119 pages
Annotation
This report contains data on 911 plans approved by various Minnesota counties, recommendations for statewide implementation of the 911 service, and a review of its value in emergency situations.
Abstract
By late 1976, 10 Minnesota counties had 911 service, the nationwide public call number for reporting emergencies and requesting assistance. A change in the developing pattern of 911 implementation is needed to achieve the goal of universal 911 availability, to assure minimum standards for service, and to assure that 911 service does not degrade the level of public safety agency service in emergency situations due to fragmented planning and implementation. The following problem nodes amplify these concerns: the developing norm of scattered implementation of 911 on a city-by-city basis, the potential urban opposition to sharing the cost of existing 911 service. Therefore, specific objectives were established for the 7-count Minneapolis-St. Paul region and for the 80 counties outside the metropolitan area. All plans for the 87 counties discuss ensuring service availability; assuring proper and sufficient call answering equipment; incorporating possible advanced features, including administrative telephone capability and emergency backup provisions; personnel procedures; and initial capital cost and ongoing annual expense considerations. Fourteen tables and figures report statistical data on implementation, planning, and demographic and financial data. The system concept, an approved plan and annual dispatching costs are appended.