RALEIGH COUNTY, PRINCETON, AND BLUEFIELD, WEST VIRGINIA - POLICE RECORDS SYSTEM ANALYSIS - LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION POLICE TECHNICAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 68321
• Author(s): L R WALTON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 57 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-003-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse Justice Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE THREE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS STUDY ASKED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE RECORDS SYSTEMS; THE ANALYSIS CONSIDERS EACH DEPARTMENT ALONE AND THEN MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL THREE.

Abstract

RALEIGH COUNTY, W.V., HAS A POPULATION OF 74,000--OF WHICH ALMOST 25,000 LIVE IN THE COUNTY SEAT OF BECKLEY. UNTIL 1971 THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE KEPT ONLY JAIL AND CIVIL PROCESSES STATISTICS. IT ASKED FOR HELP IN COLLECTING RECORDS FOR THE STATE'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REPORTING SYSTEM. PRINCETON, WHICH IS LOCATED IN MERCER COUNTY, HAS 20 SWORN OFFICERS SERVING A POPULATION OF 7,300. IT ALSO NEEDED HELP IN IMPROVING ITS MANUAL RECORDS SYSTEM. THE BLUEFIELD POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS 30 SWORN OFFICERS SERVING A POPULATION OF 17,000 AND ITS NEEDS WERE MUCH THE SAME AS PRINCETON'S. THE REPORT DESIGNS A COMPREHENSIVE RECORDS SYSTEM THAT CAN BE EASILY MAINTAINED MANUALLY BY A SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENT. SAMPLE FORMS ARE INCLUDED AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF EACH COPY IS EXPLAINED. THESE RECORDS CAN BE USED TO GENERATE CRIME DATA AND WILL PROVIDE MUCH GREATER CONTROL OF POLICE OPERATIONS. (GLR)