NCJ Number
63097
Date Published
1978
Length
11 pages
Annotation
ECONOMIC CONCEPTS ARE USED TO CONSTRUCT A MODEL OF THE DEMAND FOR POLICE PERSONNEL.
Abstract
ONE EQUATION IS BASED ON THE HYPOTHESIS THAT THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS DEMANDED IN A GIVEN JURISDICTION IS DETERMINED BY THE CRIME RATE, THE POPULATION, THE ASSESSED VALUATION IN THE COMMUNITY, THE CLEARANCE RATE, AND THE POLICE WAGE. A SECOND EQUATION IS BASED ON THE THEORY THAT THE CRIME RATE IS DETERMINED BY THE POPULATION, THE PERCENTAGE OF NONWHITE POPULATION, THE POPULATION AGE DISTRIBUTION, THE EDUCATION LEVEL, INCOME LEVEL OR INCOME DISPARITY, AND THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE FIRST EQUATION, WHICH, WHEN ESTIMATED, CAN BE USED TO PREDICT THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS NEEDED UNDER GIVEN VALUES OF THE EXPLANATORY VARIABLES. USING THE BASE YEARS OF 1965-75, ESTIMATED NEW PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS ARE PROJECTED FOR EACH YEAR FROM 1980 TO 2000. THE YEARS 1945-75 ARE ALSO USED AS A BASE PERIOD IN ORDER TO INSULATE THE DATA FROM THE UNDUE INFLUENCE OF FEDERAL FUNDING LEVEL CHANGES. BY AVERAGING THE PROJECTED FIGURES DERIVED FROM THESE TWO BASE PERIODS, THE SITUATION DESCRIBED BEST INDICATES THE CASE IN WHICH THE STATE GOVERNMENT ASSUMES MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNDING RESPONSIBILITY AS FEDERAL FUNDING DIMINISHES. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)