NCJ Number
46551
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE NEED TO CLARIFY POLICE POLICY OBJECTIVES, TO IDENTIFY ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES LIKELY TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE OBJECTIVES, AND TO IMPROVE THE ASSESSMENT OF POLICE PRODUCTIVITY IS DISCUSSED.
Abstract
POLICE OBJECTIVES RELATED TO APPREHENSION OF CRIMINALS, CRIME DETERRENCE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ARE NOTED, AND EVIDENCE THAT THESE OBJECTIVES ARE NOT BEING REALIZED IS CITED. SHORTCOMINGS IN THE ASSESSMENT OF POLICE PRODUCTIVITY ARE POINTED OUT. RESEARCH NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF POLICE PATROL, POLICE ORGANIZATION, AND POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS ARE DISCUSSED. OTHER SUBJECTS IN NEED OF RESEARCH -- ALTERNATIVES TO ARREST, THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGIES, RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTION STANDARDS -- ARE NOTED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE FIRST STEP TOWARD EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR ACCOMPLISHING POLICE OBJECTIVES IS TO DEFINE MEASURES OF POLICE PERFORMANCE IN ORDER TO EVALUATE OUTPUT. (LKM)