NCJ Number
68605
Date Published
1980
Length
18 pages
Annotation
ONE OF SEVEN PAPERS PREPARED FOR A WORKSHOP ON POLICE EFFECTIVENESS WHICH WAS HELD IN ENGLAND IN THE SUMMER OF 1979, THIS PAPER REVIEWS RESEARCH OF THE POLICE FIELD-SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM.
Abstract
POLICE RESEARCH HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF THE CONTEMPORARY POLICE INSTITUTION TO MEET THE NEEDS OF POLICING IN THE 1980'S. THESE SHORTCOMINGS ARE ADDRESSED HERE IN TERMS OF EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF RESEARCH. THE POLICE-ENVIRONMENT GAP, IT APPEARS, IS CLEAREST IN FIELD SERVICES, SUCH AS PATROL, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT. SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN RAISED IN RESEARCH ABOUT THE UTILITY OF PREVENTIVE PATROL; OTHER STUDIES REPORT ON METHODS OF INVESTIGATION, SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS FORENSIC SCIENCE AND CRIME ANALYSIS, POLICE RESPONSE TIME, AND THE INTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE POLICE AGENCY. THE RESEARCH PROMISES TO HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE POLICE FIELD-SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN NARROWING THE GAP BETWEEN THE POLICE AGENCY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT. THE DIRECTION SUGGESTED IS TOWARDS MORE DISCRIMINATION IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE ENVIRONMENT; ADOPTING SUCH TECHNIQUES AS A DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE SYSTEM; AND AFFECTING A PURPOSIVE, RATHER THAN A PROCESS, ORIENTATION. NEW INITIATIVES ARE NEEDED IN THE SUBSTANCE OF POLICE STUDIES. POLICE RESEARCH IN THE FUTURE SHOULD BE MORE CONSCIOUS OF METHODOLOGY, AND DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS SHOULD BE IMPROVED POLICE INSTITUTIONAL INADEQUACY, THE POLICE-ENVIRONMENT GAP. SHOULD REMAIN A CENTRAL CONCERN OF PRACTICE-ORIENTED POLICE RESEARCH. OVER 60 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.