NCJ Number
74584
Date Published
1980
Length
52 pages
Annotation
A method for measuring overall police performance is presented.
Abstract
Police performance cannot be measured by crime rates alone but must be assessed according to a whole range of factors. These include satisfaction of public expectations; conformity of police operations to legal, administrative, and legislative directives; conformity of priorities to those established by the government; realization of the objectives of police services; realization of police costs, efficiency, and management quality; and conformity of procedures to professional norms. Also relevant are the efficiency of police officers, the integrity of fiscal operations, realization of the objectives of police officers, and the integrity of police officers' conduct. A measurement of effectiveness (i.e., the degree of realization of final objectives) and of productivity (i.e., the cost of realization of the final objectives) are of crucial importance to police administration. Effectiveness can be measured on the basis of the objectives of the police department in such fundamental areas as crime prevention and control, resolution of conflicts, general services, and police administration. More specific objectives in each of these areas are defined by the Police Program Performance Measures model of the American Justice Institute. Each objective must be associated with at least one performance measure. The measure of productivity is effectiveness divided by the cost of resources. Each measure of effectiveness or of productivity must have a set of rules for calculation and at least one performance norm. The measurement of performance is useful both in giving a public accounting of police activities and in improving police management by facilitating program evaluation, resource distribution, and establishment of priorities. Three notes, several tables, and a flow chart are provided. --in French.