EVALUATION AND DECISION UNIT OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT IN HAMBURG - WEST GERMANY

• NCJ Number: 53255
• Journal: Kriminalistik Volume: 31 Issue: 4 Dated: (1977) Pages: 164-169
• Author(s): H FLETEMEIER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Kriminalistik Verlag Gmbh
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

THE FUNCTION AND STRUCTURE OF A WEST GERMAN CRIMINAL POLICE UNIT FOR EVALUATION AND DECISIONS ARE DESCRIBED; THE UNIT IS THE RESULT OF A 1976 POLICE REFORM.

Abstract

THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE WORK IN EXISTING AREAS PRECEDED INITIATION OF THE UNIT, WHICH IS INTENDED TO TAKE CARE OF OFFICE AS WELL AS SOME MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION PROCEDURES. THIS UNIT ASSUMES CERTAIN FUNCTIONS OF THE DIVISION FOR CASE PROCESSING IN THE CRIMINAL COMMISSARIAT, THE DISTRICT INVESTIGATIVE SERVICE, THE PLANNING AND INFORMATION UNIT IN CRIMINAL DISTRICTS, THE CENTRAL CRIME SERVICE, AND THE UNIT FOR COMPUTER AND VEHICLE USE. ONE CENTRALLY HOUSED OFFICE SERVES FIVE SPECIALIZED COMMISSARIATS. THE CRIMINAL POLICE ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIT ARE CONCENTRATED ON INFORMATION COLLECTION, STORAGE, AND DISSEMINATION; DECISIONS BOTH IN CRIMINAL POLICE MATTERS AND IN SITUATIONS DEMANDING IMMEDIATE MANPOWER DEPLOYMENT; AND RECORD KEEPING (PROTOCOLS, CARD INDEXES). EVALUATION FUNCTIONS INCLUDE ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION TO ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN CRIMES AND OFFENDERS AND TO PREDICT CRIME AREAS. RECORDS FOR ANALYSIS ENCOMPASS CRIME RECORDS, RECORDS ON DETAINMENT OF SUSPICIOUS PERSONS, AND LISTS OF RESTAURANT CONCESSIONS. WITHIN THE POLICE ORGANIZATION THE NEW UNIT IS ON AN EQUAL LEVEL WITH THE SPECIALTY UNITS, ALTHOUGH ITS FUNCTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO ALL THE UNITS. THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES NEEDED IS INITIALLY ESTABLISHED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF CASES HANDLED BY THE COMMISSARIATS AND ACCORDING TO THE PROCESSING TIME REQUIRED FOR CASES. STAFFING PROBLEMS HAVE INVOLVED LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY LAWS REGARDING PUBLIC OFFICIALS, LOSS OF STATUS FOR SOME WORKERS WITH THE REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF INTERMEDIATE LEVEL JOBS, AND THE TENDENCY TO HIRE WORKERS OVER 50 YEARS OLD FOR LESS STRESSFUL DESK JOBS, THUS ELIMINATING MANY ENERGETIC, INNOVATIVE YOUNGER PERSONS. RESULTS SO FAR INDICATE THAT THE UNITS WITHIN THE CRIMINAL POLICE DIVISION WORK BETTER UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH THE CLOSE CONTACT BETWEEN CRIMINAL AND PROTECTIVE POLICE HAS BEEN LOST, AND EVALUATION FUNCTIONS HAVE EXPANDED RAPIDLY. NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)