USING CITIZEN SURVEYS TO EVALUATE THE ORGANIZATION OF POLICING - POLICE SERVICES - STUDY FACT SHEET

• NCJ Number: 45676
• Author(s): G P WHITAKER; E OSTROM; R B PARKS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): GI-43949
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Indiana University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 22-24, 1977

Annotation

WAYS IN WHICH DATA FROM CITIZEN SURVEYS CAN BE MERGED WITH OTHER DATA TO EVALUATE ORGANIZATIONAL ALTERNATIVES FOR MUNICIPAL POLICING ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

CITIZEN SURVEYS CAN PROVIDE THREE TYPES OF INFORMATION USEFUL IN EVALUATIONS: DATA ON VICTIMIZATION AND CITIZEN ENCOUNTERS WITH POLICE; DATA ON CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF THE POLICE ROLE; AND DATA ON CITIZENS' EVALUATIONS OF HOW WELL THE POLICE PERFORM. TO BE USEFUL IN EVALUATIONS, CITIZEN SURVEY DATA MUST BE MERGED WITH DATA ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ITSELF. FAILURE TO RELATE CITIZEN SURVEY FINDINGS TO DEPARTMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS IS A COMMON FACTOR LIMITING THE UTILITY OF CITIZEN SURVEY DATA. THE USE OF CITIZEN SURVEY DATA IN A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCIES IS DESCRIBED. CITIZEN SURVEYS PROVIDED DATA FOR EVALUATIONS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF ORGANIZING POLICE IN SIMILAR NEIGHBORHOODS. COMBINED WITH POLICE EXPENDITURE DATA, THE MEASURES OF POLICE PERFORMANCE OBTAINED THROUGH CITIZEN SURVEYS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF THE RELATIVE EFFICIENCY OF EACH ORGANIZATIONAL ALTERNATIVE. A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)