FIELD EVALUATION OF THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF POLICE PATROL OPERATIONS - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• NCJ Number: 44924
• Author(s): W W STENZEL; A D GILL; R A KOLDE; N B HELLER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 31 pages
• Grant Number(s): APR75-17472
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Institute for Public Program Analysis
• Sale Source: National Technical Information Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A NONTECHNICAL SUMMARY OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS FROM A FIELD TEST OF A COMPUTERIZED PLANNING TOOL FOR USE IN EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE POLICE BEAT STRUCTURES AND PATROL DEPLOYMENT POLICIES IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

THE FIELD EVALUATION PROJECT ASSESSED THE USABILITY OF THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM IN 10 POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE PROJECT VERIFIED THAT, UNDER PROPER CONDITIONS, THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ASSESSING THE RELATIVE MERITS OF ALTERNATIVE BEAT CONFIGURATIONS. HOWEVER, THE EVALUATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE ACCURACY OF HYPERCUBE RESULTS OFTEN IS LIMITED BY BASIC ASSUMPTIONS OF THE HYPERCUBE MODEL AND BY THE RELIABILITY OF INPUT DATA COLLECTED FROM POLICE RECORDS. THE EVALUATION ALSO DEMONSTRATED THAT IMPLEMENTING THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM MAY INVOLVE CONSIDERABLE COST AND EFFORT IN TERMS OF STAFF TRAINING, DATA COLLECTION, AND DATA PROCESSING. THE SUMMARY REPORTS HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EVALUATION, INCLUDING WHAT THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM DOES AND DOES NOT DO, HOW THE SYSTEM IS USED AS A BEAT DESIGN AND PATROL POLICY PLANNING TOOL, COSTS, FEASIBILITY, AND A BRIEF CASE STUDY OF HYPERCUBE IMPLEMENTATION. RELATED DOCUMENTS INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR USING HYPERCUBE (NCJ-44923), THE FULL REPORT OF THE EVALUATION PROJECT (NCJ-44922), AND A HANDBOOK ON USING HYPERCUBE COMPUTER PROGRAMS (NCJ-44925). (LKM)