NCJ Number
63020
Date Published
1971
Length
22 pages
Annotation
THIS COST AND FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR INSTALLATON OF 911 IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, ASSESSES THE TOTAL EMERGENCY CALL VOLUME AND POSSIBLE GEOGRAPHICAL OR TELEPHONE COMPANY PROBLEMS HAMPERING INSTALLATION.
Abstract
FINDINGS AND COSTS WERE FOR TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS ONLY. THE REPORT FOUND THAT (1) OUT OF 10,714 EMERGENCY CALLS, 88.3 PERCENT WERE DIRECTED TO POLICE AGENCIES AND 11.7 PERCENT TO FIRE AGENCIES; (2) TELEPHONE COMPANY OPERATORS ANSWERED AND CONNECTED 29 PERCENT OF ALL CALLS; (3) OVER 500 CALLS LOGGED REACHED THE WRONG AGENCY OR REQUIRED RESPONSE BY MORE THAN ONE AGENCY; AND (4) THERE WAS VARIATION IN THE WAY DIFFERENT CITIES RESPONDED TO REQUESTS FOR AID, IN THEIR TIME ALLOCATIONS, AND IN METHODS OF RECORDING INCOMING CALLS AND ACTION TAKEN. THE STUDY CONCLUDED THAT A COUNTYWIDE 911 SYSTEM WAS FEASIBLE AND THAT EQUIPMENT AND FACILITY REQUIREMENTS COULD BE MET IN MOST CASES. COSTS WERE BASED ON THE ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS OF A BASIC 911 SYSTEM, WHERE A PERSON WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY CONNECTED TO A PRE-ESTABLISHED PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POINT THROUGH NORMAL TELEPHONE COMPANY FACILITIES. COSTS FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED SYSTEMS USING TWO OR THREE ANSWERING LOCATIONS WERE ALSO ESTIMATED. IT WAS EMPHASIZED THAT THE SUGGESTED COSTS FOR BASIC 911 AND BASIC 911 WITH DIRECT TRUNKS SHOULD INCLUDE ABILITY TO IDENTIFY THE PREFIX OF THE CALLER'S TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ABILITY TO FORCE DISCONNECT. COMMUNICATIONS COSTS, BASED UPON THE ORANGE COUNTY STUDIES, WERE ESTIMATED AT 5 CENTS PER PERSON PER YEAR WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS IN MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT. DIAGRAMS AND COST TABLES ARE INCLUDED AS WELL AS ADDRESSES OF ORANGE COUNTY POLICE, AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND LIFEGUARD AGENCIES. (AOP)