NCJ Number
65323
Date Published
1980
Length
35 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE CAPABILITIES OF 911, THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING SUCH A SYSTEM IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION ELSEWHERE.
Abstract
USING SEVEN-DIGIT EMERGENCY NUMBERS REQUIRES MEMORIZING MORE NUMBERS, LOOKING UP UNKNOWN EMERGENCY NUMBERS, AND HAVING TO PROVIDE ALL NEEDED INFORMATION FOR SERVICE. THE 911 SYSTEM INTRODUCES GREATER ACCURACY AND ELIMINATES THOSE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAN OCCUR IN REPORTING EMERGENCIES. IT HELPS TO CONSERVE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF VALUABLE TIME DURING A POLICE, FIRE, OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY BECAUSE THE CALLER NEED ONLY KNOW THE THREE DIGIT NUMBER. IN ADDITION, CALLS CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE EMERGENCY AGENCY WITH THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON. THEY ARE ALMOST NEVER DISCONNECTED AND SOLVE THE INFORMATION PROBLEM WITH FEATURES THAT AUTOMATICALLY DISPLAY THE ORIGINATING NUMBER AND ADDRESS. CURRENTLY, POLICE, FIRE, AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES IN NEW ORLEANS ARE REPORTED BY SEPARATE SEVEN-DIGIT EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS. A SINGLE 911 NUMBER COULD SERVE NEW ORLEANS PARISH AND THE NEARBY PARISHES OF JEFFERSON AND ST. BERNARD INSTEAD OF THE CURRENT 31 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT SERIOUS CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO ESTABLISHING A 911 SYSTEM IN THIS AREA AND THAT SUCH PLANNING BE AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL EFFORT INVOLVING ALL THREE PARISHES. A PLANNING GROUP REPRESENTING POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND COMMUNICATIONS EXPERTS WILL MEET REGULARLY TO ASSESS THE AREAS' NEEDS AND THE COSTS, FEATURES, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A 911 SYSTEM. APPENDIXES CONTAINING RELEVANT LEGISLATION ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)