USE OF AN INCIDENT SERIOUSNESS INDEX IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF POLICE PATROL MANPOWER (FROM ISSUES IN POLICE PATROL - A BOOK OF READINGS, 1973, BY T J SWEENEY AND W ELLINGSWORTH - SEE NCJ-25816)

• NCJ Number: 25827
• Author(s): N HELLER
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: Kansas City (MO) Police Dept; Police Foundation
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS OF A STUDY IN WHICH MEASURES OF HARM SUCH AS THE AMOUNT OF INJURY, PROPERTY LOSS, AND INTIMIDATION WERE APPLIED TO MEASURE CRIME SERIOUSNESS OF REPORTED OFFENSES IN ST. LOUIS.

Abstract

THE CRIME SERIOUSNESS RATING PROCEDURE AND THE SERIOUSNESS MEASURES APPLIED TO VARIOUS CRIMES ARE DESCRIBED. THE STUDY RESULTS INDICATED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT: TWO-THIRDS OF THE HARM FROM CRIME MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO PROPERTY LOSS, AND ONE-SIXTH EACH TO INJURY AND INTIMIDATION; AVERAGE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS WAS FOUR TIMES THE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIME AGAINST PROPERTY; AND THAT CRIMES WHICH OCCUR IN PLACES NOT READILY VIEWED BY POLICE ON PATROL ARE SUBSTANTIALLY MORE SERIOUS THAN THOSE TAKING PLACE ON THE STREETS. IN THE STUDY, SEVERAL METHODS TO EMPLOY THESE CRIME SERIOUSNESS MEASURES TO POLICE RESOURCE ALLOCATION WERE EXPLORED. SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS FOR PATROL BASED ON THE SERIOUSNESS MEASURES ARE INCLUDED. IT WAS ALSO CONCLUDED THAT IF THE SERIOUSNESS OF CRIME IS ASSUMED TO BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR IN ALLOCATING POLICE MANPOWER, THEN SOME COMMONLY USED METHODS OF ALLOCATION MAY BE MISALLOCATING RESOURCES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)