DECISION GAMES APPLIED TO POLICE DECISION MAKING - AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF INFORMATION USAGE

• NCJ Number: 16832
• Journal: Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (SUMMER 1974) Pages: 131-146
• Author(s): L J SIEGEL; D C SULLIVAN; J R GREENE
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EXAMINES THE NATURE OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF POLICE IN AN ARREST-NONARREST SITUATION AND CONCLUDES THAT POLICE USE VARYING AMOUNTS AND TYPES OF INFORMATION TO ARRIVE AT THE SAME DECISION.

Abstract

A VARIETY OF INFORMATION POSSIBILITIES WERE PROVIDED A SAMPLE OF POLICE AS THEY MADE ARREST-NONARREST DECISIONS IN SIMULATED ENCOUNTERS WITH CITIZENS. IN SELECTING INFORMATION FOR DECISION-MAKING, THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE WAS CONSIDERED MOST FREQUENTLY. THE ATTITUDE OF THE OFFENDER WAS ALSO AN IMPORTANT DETERMINANT OF THE DECISION, AND THE OFFENDER'S ATTITUDE THEN INFLUENCED THE AMOUNT AND TYPE OF INFORMATION SUBSEQUENTLY USED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT POLICE TRAINING INVOLVE A MORE INTENSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF DECISION-MAKING.