NCJ Number
113605
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 61 Issue: 3 Dated: (July-September 1988) Pages: 274-286
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Police services can set and measure objectives by using a structure known as a hierarchy of objectives.
Abstract
A hierarchy of objectives can generate objectives and can show the relationship between them and police force goals. The hierarchy can also show potential conflicts between objectives, displacement effects on crime category and geographical area, and the relative contribution of each objective to the force goal. When producing a hierarchy of objectives, goals must be stated clearly and unambiguously; it is often useful to make several statements of the goal before choosing the most appropriate one. The hierarchy can be built from the top down or from the bottom up. Building from the top down can be done by asking 'how?' Building from the bottom up requires the question 'why?'. Once the hierarchy is built, output measures must be defined for each separate objective. The hierarchy can teach several important elements: (1) relationships between objectives; (2) limits of influence; and (3) possible conflicts. The hierarchy of objectives can be used to evaluate policing initiatives, generate options in problem solving, and produce personal action plans. While building a hierarchy of objectives takes time, it can be done by a small group of nonexperts. 8 footnotes. Appendixes.