NCJ Number
89329
Date Published
1983
Length
82 pages
Annotation
The Portsmouth Police Department (Virginia) became more cost-effective through the Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program (ICAP), which focuses on an operations management system, resource allocation, expansion of patrol capabilities, and the integration of order-maintenance functions with crime prevention, crime repression, and apprehension.
Abstract
Under the ICAP program, patrol officers are now conducting numerous preliminary and followup investigations and are deployed by the call for service demand. Through the analysis of call-for-service data, activities which can be better handled by units other than patrol are identified and transferred. The Crime Analysis Unit was developed to identify, plot, and track crime patterns and career criminals. Close cooperation between this unit, patrol officers, the criminal investigation division, and crime prevention has improved clearance rates. The Crime Line program was developed to receive anonymous tips from persons about recent or unsolved crimes, and it has been important in solving a number of crimes. Further, investigators are now focusing on major cases with high solvability leads and outcomes likely to result in arrests. After analyzing various areas which needed improvement, management has streamlined various support elements, and numerous services previously performed by sworn personnel are now performed by volunteers, resulting in substantial cost savings, better use of sworn personnel, and increased citizen involvement. The central effort of ICAP in Portsmouth has been to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness within the framework of existing personnel and resources.