NCJ Number
81380
Date Published
Unknown
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Factors involved in decisionmaking about how to improve crime control through law enforcement are identified and the decisionmaking process is described.
Abstract
Crime control through the police consists of apprehending criminals and deterring criminal behavior through the threat of apprehension. Improved police effectiveness therefore depends on improving the apprehension and clearance rates. It is assumed that if apprehension and clearance are significantly improved, deterrence will increase. Some alternatives for improving police effectiveness by these measures include (1) the addition of more patrol officers, (2) the introduction of police callboxes for public use, (3) establishing a computer system for a command and control center, and (4) using a helicopter instead of a car to perform patrol and surveillance. In selecting from these alternatives, consideration must be given to the limits of public tolerance for increased police activity. Further, police resources for increasing apprehension must be targeted according to crime priorities. The program chosen would thus maximize crime control benefits in the crime areas targeted. Information inputs required for the decisionmaking process described are suggested, and possible sources of informational error that will distort the decisionmaking process are identified. Twenty-two footnotes and a bibliography of 15 entries are provided.