NCJ Number
44923
Date Published
1977
Length
93 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTING A COMPUTERIZED PLANNING TOOL FOR EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE POLICE BEAT STRUCTURES AND PATROL DEPLOYMENT POLICIES ARE PRESENTED IN A REPORT DIRECTED TO POLICE AGENCIES.
Abstract
THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM, WHICH IS A COMPUTERIZED REPRESENTATION OF THE HYPERCUBE QUEUING MODEL, WAS FIELD-TESTED IN 10 POLICE AGENCIES. THE MODEL LACKS PRESCRIPTIVE OR OPTIMIZATION FEATURES, BUT ITS DESCRIPTIVE CAPABILITIES ENCOMPASS ESTIMATES OF FIVE SETS OF FIELD PERFORMANCE STATISTICS FOR BEAT PLANS OR PATROL POLICIES. DESIGNED FOR POLICE AGENCIES CONSIDERING THE USE OF THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM, THE REPORT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A CONCISE OVERVIEW OF THE PROCEDURES AND ISSUES INVOLVED IN HYPERCUBE IMPLEMENTATION. TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE: THE CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATION OF THE HYPERCUBE SYSTEM; THE SYSTEM'S BENEFITS; COMPUTER HARDWARE AND DATA-PROCESSING REQUIREMENTS; SOFTWARE OPTIONS; COSTS; KINDS OF DATA NEEDED; AND SOURCES OF HYPERCUBE MATERIALS, TRAINING, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OTHER PATROL ALLOCATION AND BEAT DESIGN METHODS AND ON THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING REVISED BEAT PLANS IS ALSO INCLUDED. A GLOSSARY AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. RELATED DOCUMENTS INCLUDE THE FINAL REPORT OF THE FIELD EVALUATION PROJECT (NCJ-44922), A SUMMARY REPORT ON THE FIELD EVALUATION (NCJ-44924), AND A HANDBOOK ON HYPERCUBE COMPUTER PROGRAMS (NCJ-44925). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)