NCJ Number
178741
Date Published
1998
Length
20 pages
Annotation
The architectural design of police stations to facilitate community policing is examined by means of case studies and an analysis of the major planning, space and equipment, and operational issues that need consideration
Abstract
The case studies highlighted the challenges that three communities experienced when dealing with aging police facilities, attempts at collaborative approaches to policing, design flexibility, technological advances, and legislative mandates. The full-service police facility in Aurora, Ill., epitomizes a police-oriented community model. The other facilities were located in Elgin, Ill., Farmers Branch, Tex., and Santa Ana, Calif. The experiences of these jurisdictions suggested that facility planning should consider a period of 20 years into the future and should focus on demographic and crime trends and patterns, as well as local community expectations. In addition, community knowledge and support of projects must be encouraged. Other issues to address include the development of joint-use public safety facility, additional spaces to accommodate the gender integration of the workforce, and the decentralization of line operations. The case studies also indicated that government agencies will continue to privatize their work, that varied government services will be provided in the police facility, that the facility should be open and accessible, and that facilities will reflect a new customer orientation. Corrections officials, law enforcement administrators, and architects must also form closer working partnerships similar to those arising from community policing; these partnerships will identify trends and determine proactive approaches to addressing them. List of conference speakers, suggested readings, and 21 reference notes