NCJ Number
85644
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (1982) Pages: 125-153
Date Published
1982
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This paper regards police work as an information processing chain of activities and develops a model of police activities that a force undertakes to deal with events occurring in its jurisdiction. It develops a computer program to calculate the outputs occurring following the choice of police activities in response to a particular pattern of community events.
Abstract
The model calculates performance and cost effects using a prespecified allocation of police resources. As activities occur in the force's jurisdiction, some are sensed, the precise number being dependent on resources allocated to the various sensing functions. As activities are sensed, force responses are set in motion, further affecting the initial allocation of resources. Responses are determined according to a priority structure so that not all events receive an immediate response, and some receive no response. As a result of responses, investigations occur, reports are written, and dispositions of events are made. The model computes the frequencies and types of events, their dispositions, and the associated costs of dealing with them. The report includes flow charts and 20 references. Appendixes contain model elements, data inputs required, and field data for sample output from a run.