NCJ Number
210954
Date Published
2005
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This chapter focuses on the police handling of critical incidents, using the Jack the Ripper case as an example.
Abstract
Critical incidents, or high profile crimes, typically involve a complex array of factors that influence the police investigation. Through an examination of the Jack the Ripper case, the authors detail the factors involved in critical incidents, including the presence of grievance injuries on the victim and media coverage of the crime and investigation. Critical incident managers must deal with a complex set of issues such as managing the police staff, managing political issues related to the policing and government environment, and managing the public response and fear. The authors offer a detailed description of the investigation team on the Jack the Ripper case, focusing in particular on the investigation managers, and analyze how the investigation of the Jack the Ripper case illustrates the challenges of critical incident management. Such challenges include the need for research in police decisionmaking, the difficulties of managing large investigative teams, and the need for experienced officers and managers. The way in which police are influenced by concerns beyond the immediate investigation is also illustrated through the Jack the Ripper case when an anti-Semitic slur was ordered removed from the crime scene because of recent concerns over anti-Semitism in the area. Indeed, managing external perceptions has been noted as one of the most difficult jobs within a critical incident investigation, particularly in light of the modern world’s 24-hour, 7-days a week craving for news. Notes, references