RESEARCH AND POLICE PRODUCTIVITY - THE UNITED STATES EXPERIENCE (FROM WORKSHOP ON POLICE PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE, 1980, BY PETER ENGSTAD AND MICHELE LIOY SEE NCJ-71054)

• NCJ Number: 66697
• Author(s): D FARMER
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Canada Solicitor General
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

RESEARCH IN THE U.S. ON PATROL, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION, AND FORENSICS SUGGESTS BOTH THE NEED AND OPPORTUNITY FOR RADICAL RESTRUCTURING OF THE ENTIRE POLICE FIELD SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM.

Abstract

FIRST, A 5-YEAR RESPONSE TIME STUDY SHOWS THE NECESSITY OF DEPARTING FROM TRADITIONAL VIEWS OF CONCEPTUALIZING RESPONSE TIME, IN WHICH THE TIME CONSISTED OF ONLY COMMUNICATIONS AND DISPATCH PROCESSING AND POLICE TRAVEL TIME. RESPONSE TIME MEASUREMENTS MUST ALSO INCLUDE CITIZEN MOBILIZATION TIME. SECOND, A KANSAS CITY STUDY OF PREVENTIVE PATROL EFFECTIVENESS COMPARED FIVE REACTIVE BEATS (OFFICERS RESPONDING ONLY TO CALLS FOR SERVICE) TO FIVE CONTROL BEATS (PREVENTIVE PATROL WAS MAINTAINED) AND TO FIVE PROACTIVE AREAS (PREVENTIVE PATROL WAS INCREASED TO THREE TIMES THE NORMAL LEVELS). THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE SETS OF BEATS WERE NOT SIGNIFICANT IN TERMS OF REPORTED AND UNREPORTED CRIME, OF CITIZEN SATISFACTION, AND OF CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR OWN SECURITY. THIS STUDY SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT POLICE COMMANDERS HAVE FAR MORE DISCRETION IN THE SPATIAL DEPLOYMENT OF PATROL FORCES THAN IS USUALLY SUPPOSED. THIRD, A 1975 RAND CORPORATION STUDY EVALUATED DETECTIVE AND INVESTIGATIVE PRACTICES IN THE U.S., QUESTIONING THE DETECTIVE MYSTIQUE. IT CONCLUDED THAT THE INVESTIGATIVE FUNCTION COULD BE MUCH BETTER MANAGED. FOURTH, A FORENSIC SCIENCES FOUNDATION STUDY OF CRIME LABORATORIES FOUND THAT THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN EVIDENCE ANALYSIS IN SOME CRIME LABORATORIES AND A NEED TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE EXAMINATIONS. IN LIGHT OF THESE RESEARCH RESULTS, THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AIMS TO CONTINUE TO DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION AND DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE RESOURCES. THE INSTITUTE HOPES TO ADD TO INFORMATION ON THE NATURE OF CURRENT POLICE OPERATIONS, ON THE OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF POLICE OPERATIONS, AND ON ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR PROVIDING FIELD SERVICES. MEANWHILE, THE INSTITUTE MUST CONTINUE TO UPGRADE THE QUALITY OF ITS RESEARCHERS, TO PROJECT FINDINGS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF REAL TOOLS AND IMPROVED TACTICS FOR POLICE OPERATIONS, AND TO MAINTAIN REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF RESEARCH RESULTS. (MHP)