NCJ Number
38092
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1976) Pages: 277-284
Date Published
1976
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF THE DETECTIVE IN HIS DAY-TO-DAY RELATIONS WITH FELLOW DETECTIVES AND THE ELITENESS OF HIS ROLE WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Abstract
ALSO CONSIDERED ARE HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UNIFORMED DIVISION, THE CRIMINAL SUSPECT, AND THE CRIMINAL COURTS, AS WELL AS JOB EVALUATION CRITERIA AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE DETECTIVE'S BEHAVIOR. THE INFORMATION OBTAINED IN THIS STUDY WAS COLLECTED BY AN OBSERVATIONAL ANALYSIS IN WHICH THE AUTHOR ASSUMED THE ROLE OF A DETECTIVE IN THE CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS SECTION OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS BUREAU IN A MID-SIZED CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS FOUND THAT ON MOST OCCASIONS, THE DETECTIVE'S WORK WAS LIMITED TO FINDING KNOWN VIOLATORS OF CRIMES. DETECTIVES HAD RELATIVE FREEDOM IN THEIR WORKING WORLD AS COMPARED TO UNIFORMED OFFICERS, WERE CONSIDERED TO BE THE UPPER STRATUM OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WERE GENERALLY OF THE OPINION THAT PATROLMEN MISUNDERSTOOD THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES. COOPERATIVE SUSPECTS (THOSE WHO WAVED THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS AND/OR MADE CONFESSIONS) WERE TREATED MORE SYMPATHETICALLY THAN 'UNCOOPERATIVE' SUSPECTS. DETECTIVES GENERALLY SHOWED A STRONG DESIRE TO PREPARE A CASE WELL FOR THE PROSECUTOR AND TO PERFORM WELL ON THE WITNESS STAND. ARREST AND CLEARANCE RATES, USE OF INFORMANTS, AND PREPARATION OF CASE REPORTS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITERIA USED TO EVALUATE DETECTIVES' PERFORMANCE.