NCJ Number
182456
Date Published
October 1999
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This testimony before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Committee on the Judiciary, contains observations on the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program midway through program implementation.
Abstract
Community policing is a philosophy under which local police departments develop strategies to address the causes of and reduce the fear of crime through problem-solving tactics and community-police partnerships. This report is based primarily on a September 1997 report, when the COPS grant program was midway through its 6-year authorization. Observations at that point include the following. (1) COPS grants were not targeted on the basis of greatest need for assistance. However, the higher the crime rate, the more likely a jurisdiction was to apply for a COPS grant. (2) COPS office grant monitoring was limited. Monitoring guidelines were not prepared, site visits and telephone monitoring did not systematically take place and information on activities and accomplishments was not consistently collected or reviewed. (3) Small communities were awarded most COPS office grants, but large cities received larger awards. (4) As of June 1997, a total of 30,155 law enforcement positions funded by COPS grants were estimated by the COPS office to be on the street. Notes