NCJ Number
64291
Journal
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND THE ELDERLY Dated: (SUMMER 1979) Pages: 5-10
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
PROSPECTS FOR ACQUIRING SPECIAL POLICE TO SERVE THE CLEVELAND, OHIO, ELDERLY ARE EVALUATED, WITH REFERENCE TO REPLICATION OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS ROBBERY UNIT (SCRU) IN NEW YORK CITY.
Abstract
THE 35-MEMBER SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE SENIOR CITIZEN COALITION IN CLEVELAND, COMPRISED OF ABOUT 70 ELDERLY-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS, HAS EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION WITH POLICE PROTECTION FOR THE ELDERLY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED THAT SPECIAL INTEREST POLICE ASSIGNMENTS WOULD BE INEQUITABLE AND THAT IT COULD ONLY ASSIGN MORE OFFICERS TO STREET PATROL. SENIOR CITIZENS HELD A PUBLIC PROTEST BUT ENCOUNTERED SOLID RESISTANCE. SPECIAL POLICE UNITS ARE ON THE DEFENSIVE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. BEHIND THE TREND AGAINST THESE UNITS ARE AT LEAST TWO LINES OF THOUGHT. THE FIRST IS A BELIEF THAT SPECIAL DETECTIVE SQUADS DO NOT CONSTITUTE A PRODUCTIVE USE OF POLICE MANPOWER. THE SECOND IS THE CONCEPT OF TEAM POLICING WHERE PATROL OFFICERS ASSESS THE LIKELIHOOD OF SOLVING A REPORTED CRIME RIGHT ON THE SCENE AND SUGGEST AN APPROPRIATE DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITY AMONG TEAM MEMBERS IF AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. THE THEORETICAL MIDDLE GROUND INVOLVES CRISIS-FOCUSED POLICE SPECIALISTS. SOME PERSONS CLAIM BENEFITS OF OPERATING THE SCRU OUTWEIGH COSTS, AS MEASURED BY THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS OR BY IMPROVED COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND INCREASED TRUST OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. OTHERS FEEL BENEFITS OF SPECIAL UNITS ARE MARGINAL AND COSTS ARE PROBIBITIVE. ACTIVITIES OF SCRU TEAMS IN THE BRONX SECTION OF NEW YORK CITY ARE DESCRIBED. (DEP)