POLICE SERVICE PRODUCTION FUNCTION

• NCJ Number: 13422
• Author(s): J I CHAPMAN; W Z HIRSCH
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): GS 3309 (NSF)
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: University of California, Los Angeles
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

SEVERAL STAGES OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS ARE APPLIED TO AN EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE POLICE SERVICE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

Abstract

THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF POLICE WILL HAVE AN APPRECIABLE EFFECT ON CRIME PREVENTION. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES ANALYZED, INCREASING THE REAL RESOURCES MADE AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE AGENCY WILL INCREASE ITS OUTPUT, PARTICULARLY IF THESE RESOURCES ARE PUT INTO FIELD OFFICERS, MOTORCYCLE TEAMS, AND CIVILIAN SUPPORT. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF THE CIVILIAN AND NONCIVILIAN POLICE EMPLOYEES WILL BRING ABOUT INCREASES IN OUTPUT IN VIRTUALLY ALL CASES. A ONE PERCENT INCREASE IN ANY ONE OF THE EMPLOYEE INPUTS, EXCEPT NONFIELD OFFICERS, WOULD INCREASE OUTPUT BY SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN ONE PERCENT, OFTEN BY 2 TO 4 PERCENT. THUS THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME INDICATION OF INCREASING RETURNS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)