NCJ Number
188276
Date Published
2000
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the research literature regarding the impact and effectiveness of external oversight of police, with emphasis on whether external organizations result in more thoroughness and greater impartiality in investigations, improve standards of police behavior, and increase legitimacy of the complaints process.
Abstract
The review excludes issues of cost effectiveness and public attitudes. The discussion notes that most external oversight bodies do not routinely monitor and report on their own performance, few have undergone independent evaluations, and daunting methodological problems exist in determining their impacts. Nevertheless, the available data indicate that, with some exceptions, the creation of independent oversight mechanisms seems to have had less impact on complaints processes, investigation outcomes, and police standards of conduct than advocates of reform would have predicted. The lack of measurable effects may partially result from the nature of the questions asked, the evaluation methods used, and the shortage of data. In addition, police agencies are large and complex organizations that can be difficult to change, especially from the outside; hence, even small gains may be worth applauding. The analysis concludes that although more research, comparative studies with improved designs, and more finely calibrated research instruments may provide more persuasive evidence of institutional effectiveness, this additional information would not probably alter the current findings significantly. In addition, the increasing skepticism regarding the usefulness of external oversight suggests that these organizations should give greater priority to reviewing, monitoring, and improving their performance on an ongoing basis. Footnotes