NCJ Number
58158
Date Published
Unknown
Length
184 pages
Annotation
A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH FOR DETERMINING ONE OR MORE METHODOLOGIES FOR MEASURING LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFECTIVENESS IS PRESENTED IN DETAIL, AND AREAS NEEDING FURTHER DEVELOPMENT ARE IDENTIFIED.
Abstract
THE CURRENT INTEREST IN MEASURING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS PRODUCED A FOCUS PRIMARILY ON TYPES OF DATA TO BE USED RATHER THAN ON DESIGN OF THE MEASUREMENT PROCESS ITSELF. EACH INVESTIGATOR HAS FOCUSED ON ONLY A SMALL PART OF THE MEASUREMENT PROCESS. THE CURRENT DEBATE ON WHETHER FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS OR VICTIMIZATION SURVEYS ARE BETTER DATA SOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS OBSCURED MORE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS THE VALIDITY OF USING ANY CRIME RATE DATA FOR EVALUATING A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, AND THE ROLE OF SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS IN CRIME. THE PRESENT INVESTIGATOR ARGUES THAT ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE DICTATED BY THE ORGANIZATION'S STATED GOALS AND AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, BUT EXISTING ACTIVITIES ALSO INFLUENCE THE SELECTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS. SEVERAL DIFFERENT PERFORMANCE MEASURES CAN BE USED TO DESCRIBE THESE INTERACTIONS. EACH FOCUSES ON A DIFFERENT ASPECT OF PERFORMANCE. AN EFFECTIVENESS FUNCTION CAN THEN BE DERIVED FOR BOTH THE ORGANIZATION AND FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. MANY COMPLEMENTARY MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS SHOULD BE USED, RATHER THAN A SINGLE MEASUREMENT. PERFORMANCE AREAS TO BE MEASURED INCLUDE EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY, RESPONSIVENESS, AND EQUITY. A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, GENERAL ASPECTS OF MEASUREMENT, APPLICATIONS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WEAKNESSES, IN CURRENT SOCIAL SERVICE MEASUREMENT EFFORTS, SPECIFIC MEASUREMENT AREAS FOR WHICH RESEARCH IS RECOMMENDED, FIGURES, TWO LISTS OF REFERENCES, AND AN APPENDIX SHOWING A METHOD FOR DESCRIBING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN TWO ORGANIZATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)