NCJ Number
139425
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (Summer 1992) Pages: 55-61
Date Published
1992
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This analysis of four public opinion surveys that were designed to assist police decisionmaking concludes that these surveys can provide information that may contribute to improvements in police effectiveness and quality of service.
Abstract
The surveys asked the public about police policies, methods, and priorities and particularly targeted people who have used police services. One survey gathered information about public attitudes toward the New York City police. A British survey focused on reporting by crime victims; another focused on community perceptions about police services, needs, and priorities. Finally, the author conducted a survey of 499 callers to the Dorset Police in England in 1991. More than half of the calls were to report crime. Callers expected positive action as well as understanding attitudes and success in apprehending the offender. The main improvement suggested was increasing the visibility of police patrols. Although Marenin has questioned the value of such surveys, this analysis indicates that they can provide information that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to obtain. 13 references