Productivity in the Management of Criminal Investigations Executive Summary

• NCJ Number: 80952
• Author(s): W Pindur; J Livingstone
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 27 pages
• Grant Number(s): 79-DF-AX-0137
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Portsmouth Police Dept
• Corporate Author: Old Dominion University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This executive summary presents findings and conclusions from an evaluation of the Management of Criminal Investigations component of the Portsmouth Police Department's Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program (Va.).

Abstract

The evaluation was designed to (1) develop productivity measures for individual investigators and investigative units, (2) determine the relationships among the various case outcomes of investigations, (3) estimate the optimum caseloads for investigators in terms of agency goals, and (4) provide a means whereby resource allocation decisions in the investigative function are better informed. Data were collected and monitored over time to assess the impact of changes introduced as a result of the ongoing research findings. Data sources were departmental records, case assignment logs, monthly activity reports, monthly Uniform Crime Reports, time sheets, offense reports, supplemental investigation reports, and personal interviews with key personnel. Findings showed significant improvements in the content of monthly reports which now indicate workload and performance data in addition to Uniform Crime Reports information; the equity and accuracy of performance measures used to evaluate individuals and units; the distribution of investigations between patrol and detective divisions, specifically the assignment of responsibility for property destruction cases to patrol division; the equalization of caseloads among individual investigators; and the accurate estimation of optimum caseloads in burglary and larceny squads. Evaluation research has further established (1) estimates of optimum individual caseloads in burglary (19-20 cases per month) and larceny (23-29 cases per month); (2) reasonable expectations of the clearance rate for reported burglaries and larcenies (burglary 35 percent, larceny 30 percent); (3) the clearance rates for assigned burglary and larceny cases (burglary 50 percent, larceny 40 percent); (4) a means to determine the staffing level required in burglary and larceny squads; and (5) that the current staffing level in burglary and larceny squads is adequate. Directions for further research are suggested. For the summary report, see NCJ 80951.