NCJ Number
47736
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (SPRING 1978) Pages: 11-23
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
CLEARANCE RATES ACHIEVED BY CRIME CONTROL TEAMS AND TRADITIONALLY ORGANIZED INVESTIGATIVE UNITS IN THE SYRACUSE, N.Y., POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE COMPARED.
Abstract
CRIME CONTROL TEAMS HAVE BEEN OPERATIONAL IN SYRACUSE SINCE 1968. THE TEAM CONCEPT IS BASED ON THE SEPARATION OF CRIME CONTROL AND SERVICE FUNCTIONS. UNDER THE TEAM CONCEPT, RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISPOSING OF A CRIMINAL INCIDENT RESTS WITH A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL: THE CRIME CONTROL TEAM OFFICER ASSIGNED TO THE INITIAL COMPLAINT. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS METHOD OF CRIME INVESTIGATION, AS MEASURED BY CLEARANCE RATES, IS COMPARED WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRADITIONAL PRACTICE OF DIVIDING RESPONSIBILITY BETWEEN THE PATROL OFFICER AND THE INVESTIGATOR. THE COMPARISON IS BASED ON DATA GATHERED FROM JULY 1968 THROUGH FEBRUARY 1973. A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEAM POLICING AND CLEARANCE RATES IS SHOWN. STRATEGIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN EFFECTIVENESS BETWEEN THE TWO ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES TO CRIME CONTROL ARE IDENTIFIED. DETAILS OF THE ANALYSIS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS, ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)