NCJ Number
74049
Date Published
1980
Length
169 pages
Annotation
This research effort examines the police policy setting process, with particular emphasis on citizen participation, to develop a model for continuous citizen participation and feedback in police policy development, including the specification of implementation and evaluation components.
Abstract
Data were collected through a comprehensive literature review, a mail survey of policy practices used in about 200 police agencies, and site visits to 16 cities throughout the United States, with particular emphasis on 6 of these cities having promising policy development experiences. These six cities were Dayton, Ohio; Madison, Wis.; Concord, N.H.; San Diego; St. Louis; and Aurora, Colo. Data were acquired from police chiefs, supervisory and command personnel, line police officers, local government officials and local residents, judges and attorneys, and business/interest groups. Areas of police policy emphasized were use of force, processing of citizen complaints, enforcement priorities, police promotion, the handling of domestic violence cases, stop and frisk, and the gathering of police intelligence information. Results of the literature review indicated scant relationship between policy-community relations programs and citizen participation in the police policy setting process. Also, policy implementation and evaluation were found to be equal in importance to policy development. The mail survey results revealed that community groups and criminal justice professions were rarely involved in police policy development, although civil service commissions, State standards organizations, and union contracts influenced policy setting. Results of the site visits demonstrated a clear hierarchy of involvement in police policy matters. The chief of police serves as the key decisionmaker, police personnel and others have a 'review/influence' role, and local residents have no role except in the processing of citizen complaints and the specification of enforcement priorities. Numerous general models of citizen participation in the police policymaking process are discussed, including administrative rulemaking, committee/task force, legislation, judicial rulemaking, litigation, mediation, and budgetary models. A 12-point model of citizen participation is presented and discussed, focusing on the ingredients necessary for implementation. Finally, 22 dimensions of quality of police policy are developed and described in terms of process, product, and implementation criteria. Tables, charts, footnotes, and over 100 references are supplied, and data collection and survey forms are appended.