NCJ Number
65041
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 20-22,79
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
IN TESTING A STANDARDIZED CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM, THE DURANGO POLICE DEPARTMENT (COLORADO) REPORTS SHORTER TIMES FOR COMPLETING CRIME REPORTS AND MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON CRIMINALS.
Abstract
DURANGO HAS A POPULATION OF 15,000. ITS STANDARDIZED CRIME REPORTING SYSTEM (SCRS) IS MANUALLY OPERATED BUT EASILY CONVERTED TO COMPUTERS; PROVIDEDS INFORMATION SUPPORT FOR PATROL OFFICERS, INVESTIGATORS, PLANNING, AND EVALUATION; PROVIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON EACH OFFENSE; AND SYSTEMATICALLY COMPILES AND REPORTS INFORMATION SUITING THE DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS. SCRS'S THREE BASIC MODULES CAPTURE, MANAGE, AND USE DATA. DATA IS GATHERED PRIMARILY BY PATROL OFFICERS, DETECTIVES, AND COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHERS; AND SCRS IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE A LOGICAL, EQUITABLE, AND ORDERLY WORK FLOW WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. DATA USE AND MANAGEMENT MODULES PRODUCE MONTHLY REPORTS, KEEP LOGS OF POLICE ACTIVITY (INCLUDING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT EVENTS), AND KEEP CASE AND CRIMINAL FILES. OFFICERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL ARE TRAINED IN USING THE DATA ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR JOBS. AN EVALUATION OF THE SYSTEM HAS REVEALED THAT OFFENSE REPORTING TIME WAS SPEEDED UP, DATA AND ROUTINE REPORTS IN CRIMINAL FILES HAD INCREASED IN VOLUME AND NUMBER, AND CLEARANCE RATES HAD IMPROVED. PERSONNEL RESISTANCE TO SCRS WAS NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM. AN EXHIBIT PRESENTS AN OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM. (PAP)