NCJ Number
55221
Date Published
1975
Length
24 pages
Annotation
A COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES POLICE OFFICIALS IN SMALL CITIES WITH DATA NEEDED TO ASSIGN OFFICERS WHEN AND WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED FOR SMALL CITIES (UNDER 100,000 POPULATION) THAT DO NOT OWN THEIR OWN COMPUTERS. ITS DATA-PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS ARE MINIMAL, AND SOFTWARE HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO ALLOW BATCH PROCESSING ON A MONTHLY BASIS, PERHAPS ON A COMPUTER OWNED BY A BANK, UNIVERSITY, COMPUTER SERVICE COMPANY, OR OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR SOURCE. THE SYSTEM PROVIDES THREE MONTHLY REPORTS: TWO SHOWING WHEN AND WHERE POLICE SERVICE HAS BEEN REQUIRED DURING THE PAST MONTH AND A THIRD ANALYZING TRAFFIC ACCIDENT AND CITATION ACTIVITY. THE REPORTS PRESENT DATA IN TABULAR AND BAR-CHART FORMATS. THE OVERALL SYSTEM AND EACH OF ITS SOFTWARE PACKAGES ARE DESCRIBED. EXAMPLES OF REPORTS ARE PRESENTED. A SCHEDULING MODEL THAT DEMONSTRATES HOW SYSTEM DATA CAN BE USED IN ALLOCATING PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT TO MATCH SERVICE DEMANDS IS INCLUDED. THE SYSTEM IS IN USE IN TWO OKLAHOMA CITIES. IN DECEMBER 1974, THE CENTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY HELD A WORKSHOP TO EXPLAIN THE SYSTEM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS. (LKM)