NCJ Number
70140
Date Published
1970
Length
138 pages
Annotation
This report examines crime and the criminal justice system in the District of Columbia, with emphasis on problems and their potential solutions in the areas of police operations, police department resources, and other criminal justice agencies.
Abstract
Funded by a LEAA grant, the study was prompted by growing recognition of the city's growing crime problem. The 30-day analysis showed that reported crime in the District of Columbia is growing at a rate 10 times faster than the crime clearance rate. Although over 56,000 felonies were committed in 1969, there were only 11,500 arrests, 2,500 indictments, and about 1,400 convictions. One crime was reported for almost every 5 households, compared with 1 crime for every 20 households 10 years earlier. Despite several improvements, the city's criminal justice system has not been able to cope with the rising crime. The system lacks effective planning. In addition, police department recruiting and training resources are insufficient to achieve its goal of a 25-percent increase in personnel. The growth and geographic concentration of street crime indicates the need for more public involvement in the fight against crime as well as for improved management of field forces. It is recommended that the city's government declare war on crime and provide effective central civilian direction and control for the criminal justice system, especially the police department. Specific programs should include a joint operations management center, centralized coordination of planning, integrated management and evaluation of new programs, continuing performance monitoring, and creation of an effective, centralized management information system. Tables, figures, footnotes, and appendixes presenting selected crime statistics and a survey of the metropolitan police department's selected training programs are included. (Author abstract modified)