NCJ Number
49541
Date Published
1978
Length
37 pages
Annotation
THIS RESOURCE DOCUMENT CONTAINS SUGGESTIONS, STANDARDS, AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLANNING THE DESIGN OF A NEW POLICE FACILITY.
Abstract
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ATTRACTIVE, FUNCTIONAL, CLEAN, AND WELL-DESIGNED POLICE FACILITIES CAN HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON EMPLOYEE MORALE AND EFFICIENCY AND ON THE PUBLIC'S IMAGE OF ITS POLICE FORCE. AN INTRODUCTORY SECTION OUTLINES SUCH TYPICAL DESIGN ERRORS TO BE AVOIDED AS LOSS OF EFFECTIVE CONTROL BY ALLOWING SEVERAL POINTS OF ACCESS TO THE BUILDING, A BOOKING OPERATION ACCESSIBLE TO PUBLIC AREAS AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC AND UTILITIES THAT ARE EXPOSED, AND THUS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO VANDALS. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF A BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM, AN ADEQUATE EMERGENCY GENERATOR, AND A MINIMUM OF OUTSIDE WINDOWS. DIAGRAMS OF SEVERAL MODEL POLICE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES FOR DEPARTMENTS AND CITIES OF VARIOUS SIZES ARE PROVIDED. THE AUTHORS EMPHASIZE THAT INADEQUATE ORGANIZATIONAL PLANS WHICH HAVE HAMPERED OPERATIONS IN ONE BUILDING MUST NOT BE REPEATED IN A NEW ONE. FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION OF THE FACILITY SITE ARE DISCUSSED. THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING ITSELF AND THE TYPES OF NEEDS THAT IT HAS TO MEET ARE EXAMINED; THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREA, CENTRAL RECORDS AREA, COMMUNICATIONS CENTER, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AREA, UNIFORMED OPERATIONS AREA, PROPERTY ROOMS, LABORATORY FACILITIES, AND FIREARMS RANGE ARE DISCUSSED INDIVIDUALLY. MODELS OF THE FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITIES, DRAWINGS OF POSSIBLE BUILDING AND ROOM FLOORPLANS, AND SAMPLE COMMUNICATIONS CONSOLE ARRANGEMENTS ARE PRESENTED. (VDA) FLOORPLANS, AS WELL AS SAMPLE COMMUNICATIONS CONSOLE ARRANGEMENTS, ARE PRESENTED. (VDA)