NCJ Number
35829
Date Published
1973
Length
75 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON THE EVALUATION OF ELEVEN MAJOR FEDERALLY FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION AREAS COVERING THE YEARS 1967 TO 1973.
Abstract
THE PROJECT AREAS WERE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT; COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM RECONSTRUCTION; A COMPUTER-AIDED COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM; AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM; DESIGN OF A BUREAU OF FIELD OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATIVE COMMAND CENTERS; RECORDS AND REPORTING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT; STATISTICAL SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENTS; COMPUTER SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT; INSTALLATION OF A HEADQUARTERS TO STATION COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A FREE PUBLIC EMERGENCY REPORTING TELEPHONE SYSTEM. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS REVIEW WERE TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF THE PROJECTS, EVALUATE THE PROGRESS MADE TO DATE, AND TO MAKE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. TO ACCOMPLISH STUDY OBJECTIVES, THE RESULTS IN EACH PROJECT AREA WERE COMPARED TO THE ORIGINAL GOALS STATED FOR THE AREA, THE OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE OBSERVED, AND DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL WERE INTERVIEWED. STUDY FINDINGS REVEALED THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE INSTALLATION OF NEW RADIO EQUIPMENT, THE ELEVEN PROJECTS DID NOT ACHIEVE THEIR STATED OBJECTIVES. FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS LACK OF SUCCESS INCLUDED THE EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH AND USE OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY RATHER THAN ON IMPROVING STREET OPERATIONS, THE ORGANIZATION OF PROJECTS TO PREVENT EARLY BENEFITS, FAILURE TO COORDINATE PROJECTS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AND LACK OF CLOSE PROJECT MONITORING. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE CHANCES OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING FUTURE PROJECTS ARE SUGGESTED. ALSO INCLUDED ARE A SUMMARY OF THE HISTORY OF THE PROJECTS AND DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS AND EVALUATIONS.