PROJECT CRIME (COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH TO IMPROVE METHODS OF EVALUATION) - PROJECT REPORT 6 - AN EVALUATION OF A SPECIAL POLICE UNIT PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 35148
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 62 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0104
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Assoc of Central Oklahoma Governments
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A PROJECT IN THE NORMAN (OK) POLICE DEPARTMENT TO INCREASE THE CLEARANCE AND CONVICTION RATES FOR THE CRIMES OF BURGLARY, LARCENY (AUTO, BICYCLE), AND ARMED ROBBERY.

Abstract

THE DEPARTMENT HIRED SIX ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS AND PURCHASED RELATED SUPPORT EQUIPMENT TO CREATE A SPECIAL POLICE UNIT (SPU) WHICH WAS TO FUNCTION AS A FULLY MOBILE UNIT TO OPERATE SELECTIVELY TO DETECT AND INVESTIGATE THE TARGET CRIMES IN THOSE AREAS WHERE SUCH ACTIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE THE GREATEST OR INCREASING. EVALUATION OF CONVICTION RATES WAS NOT POSSIBLE AT THE TIME THE STUDY WAS MADE BECAUSE STATISTICS WERE AT THE TIME UNAVAILABLE FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. AN INCREASE IN THE CLEARANCE RATE WAS REFLECTED IN ADMINISTRATIVE SUMMARIES AND INCREASED VALUE OF RECOVERED PROPERTY. TWENTY-ONE PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE OF CITIZENS SURVEYED WERE AWARE OF THE PROJECT AND FORTY PERCENT STATED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF THE UNIT INCREASED THEIR FEELINGS OF SECURITY. A COST ANALYSIS WAS CONDUCTED. SINCE THE EVALUATION, THE UNIT'S ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL ACTIVITIES.