MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR - A CASE STUDY OF THE INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

• NCJ Number: 15402
• Author(s): R B PARKS
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 58 pages
• Corporate Author: Indiana University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DISSERTATION - INDIANA UNIVERSITY

Annotation

ILLUSTRATES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF MEASURING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY USING THE DATA ROUTINELY RECORDED BY SUCH AGENCIES.

Abstract

THE ARGUMENTS PRESENTED IN THE CASE STUDY ARE THAT THE CITIZEN IS NOT PROVIDED THE DATA WHICH WOULD ALLOW HIM TO EVALUATE THE SERVICE FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE AND THAT THE POLICE DO NOT OBTAIN THE DATA NECESSARY TO EVALUATE THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ORDER MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS. THERE IS A DISCUSSION ON THE 'REAL' POLICE FUNCTIONS, FOLLOWED BY COMMENTS ON THE NATURE OF THE POLICE SYSTEM. IN GATHERING DATA FOR THIS STUDY, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT PLACED MAJOR EMPHASIS ON THE AREA OF CRIME STATISTICS. THIS STUDY EXAMINES PRACTICES OF DATA RECORDING, SUCH AS DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN CASES THAT WILL OR WILL NOT BE RECORDED, CODING OF INFORMATION AND ITS ACCURACY, AND FILING OF REPORTS. THE DATA CONTAINED IN REPORTS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.