NCJ Number
60489
Date Published
1979
Length
17 pages
Annotation
FINDINGS OF THE POLICE FOUNDATION ABOUT RESEARCH AND EVALUATION IN POLICE ORGANIZATIONS AND ABOUT THE PROCESS OF CHANGE AND REFORM IN POLICING ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE POLICE FOUNDATION IS A REFORM AGENCY WHICH HAS USED RESEARCH TO BOTH PROVIDE THE SUBSTANCE OF CHANGE AND DEVELOP CREDIBILITY AS AN AGENT OF CHANGE. THE FOUNDATION HAS FOUND THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS CAN SUCCESSFULLY MOUNT COMPLEX PROJECTS AND RESEARCH, EVEN EXPERIMENTS. POLICE EXECUTIVES HAVE FOUND THAT THE CONDUCT OF QUALITY RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS IS WORTH THE EFFORT. DEPARTMENTAL STABILITY IS ESSENTIAL TO COMPLEX PROJECTS, AS CONFLICT DOES OCCUR BETWEEN RESEARCHERS AND POLICE DURING RESEARCH AND EVALUATIONS. WHEN A DEPARTMENT AGREES TO RESEARCH, EVALUATION, OR EXPERIMENTATION, IT MUST BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT SUCH ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTE A TEMPORARY TRANSFER OF CAREFULLY SPECIFIED POWER, AND AS A PROGRAM PROGRESSES, OPERATIONAL PERSONNEL WILL FORM IMPRESSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROGRAM LONG BEFORE THE RESEARCHERS WILL. THE RESPONSE OF THE LOCAL PRESS TO THE DEPARTMENT, THE CHIEF, AND THE PROJECTS THEMSELVES IS CRUCIAL TO THE STABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT. RESEARCH FINDINGS MUST BE WIDELY CIRCULATED AND INTERPRETED TO GAIN SUPPORT AT VARIOUS LEVELS OF POLICE MANAGEMENT. SECONDARY ANALYSES AND REPLICATION ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROCESS FOR GAINING GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF RESEARCH FINDINGS. POLICE FOUNDATION PUBLICATIONS ARE LISTED. (RCB)