NCJ Number
64798
Date Published
1979
Length
124 pages
Annotation
THE PONTIAC, MICH, POLICE DEPARTMENT'S INTEGRATED CRIMINAL APPREHENSION PROJECT (ICAP) IS DESCRIBED AND EVALUATED; TOPICS INCLUDE IMPROVING THE PATROL AND SUPPORT FUNCTIONS AND PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
THE PROJECT BEGAN OCTOBER 1, 1978, AND ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1979. ICAP HAD FIVE GENERAL OBJECTIVES. THE FIRST WAS TO LIGHTEN INVESTIGATIVE CASELOADS AND INCREASE PATROL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF A CASE SCREENING SYSTEM. BY THE END OF THE PROJECT, PATROL OFFICERS WERE CLOSING APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE CASES THEMSELVES. THE SECOND GOAL WAS TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL ANALYSIS PROCESS; THIS GOAL WAS NOT ACHIEVED AS CURRENT PRACTICES WERE CONTINUED. ANOTHER UNACHIEVED OBJECTIVE WAS TO INCREASE AND IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT'S CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH BOTH PATROL FORCE AND SPECIALIST CRIME PREVENTION PERSONNEL. ALSO, THE PROJECT SOUGHT TO APPREHEND AND CONVICT CAREER CRIMINALS, A GOAL WHICH WAS PARTIALLY MET. FINALLY, IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PATROL SERVICES WAS SOUGHT BUT NOT ATTAINED. THE GENERAL OBJECTIVE OF ENHANCING THE ROLE OF PATROL OFFICERS WAS NOT REALIZED IN THE VIEW OF THE OFFICERS, ALTHOUGH HIGHER RANKING PERSONNEL BELIEVED IT WAS. ALTHOUGH THE ICAP PROJECT HAS ENDED IN PONTIAC, THE REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONTINUE TO ADOPT THE ICAP PLANNING MODEL. THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD EMPHASIZE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT RATHER THAN REACTION TO CRISIS SITUATIONS. THE CRIMINAL ANALYSIS UNIT FUNCTIONS SHOULD BE COMBINED WITH THE PLANNING AND ANALYSIS UNIT. THE DIRECTED PHILOSOPHY OF PATROL SHOULD BE CONTINUED, BUT THE PRESENT FORMS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY EXAMINED. THE CAREER CRIMINAL APPREHENSION FUNCTION SHOULD BE MAINTAINED AND CASE SCREENING CONTINUED. THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD REASSESS THE ROLE OF PATROL OFFICERS IN CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS. GRAPHS, CHARTS, MAPS, TABULAR DATA, AND APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)