NCJ Number
12680
Date Published
1972
Length
545 pages
Annotation
STUDY OF POLICE DISCRETIONARY ACTIONS WHEN RESPONDING TO CITIZEN CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE OR REPORTS OF CRIME.
Abstract
THE DATA WERE COLLECTED BY RESEARCHERS RIDING WITH POLICE OFFICERS AND RECORDING POLICE REACTIONS AND RESPONSES TO VARYING SITUATIONS. THE AUTHOR CONSIDERS POLICE DECISIONS IN INSTANCES OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES, SEX OFFENSES, ASSAULTS, AND VARIOUS OTHER CRIMES. HE ANALYSES HIS FINDINGS AND OFFERS CONCLUSIONS CONCERNING THE OFFICERS' DECISIONS TO REPORT OFFENSES, WHAT OFFENSES TO REPORT, AND THE FACTORS POLICEMEN CONSIDER IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS. INCLUDED ARE THE AUTHOR'S DATA FORM USED BY RESEARCHERS OBSERVING THE POLICE AND STATISTICAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY, 174 TABLES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY.