NCJ Number
188615
Journal
Trooper Dated: Spring 2001 Pages: 45-47
Date Published
2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study designed to determine how many of the large police organizations in the United States and Canada are using the Internet and in what ways.
Abstract
In April 2000, 118 surveys were sent to 55 members of the Major Cities Chiefs organization and selected members of the National Executive Institute Associates. All of the surveys were sent to departments that employed more than 500 officers. No effort was made to randomize the departments' selection by size or geographical location. The survey included questions regarding whether the department maintained a website, how the site was constructed, how much it cost, and how the website was used by the department. The other questions were about the site's administration. Of the 118 surveys, 68 (58 percent) were returned. A total of 67 of the responding 68 departments maintained a website. A review of the websites indicated their quality ranged from good to sophisticated. There was no observable correlation between the quality of the site and whether it was constructed by a contractor or by in-house personnel. Fifty-seven percent of respondents maintained their own sites, and 39 percent had sites that were housed with the local government's information. Four percent of the respondents had both an independent website and maintained information on the government's site. This article also provides survey information on the current uses of the Internet, site management, the design and cost of websites, website updates, and the e-mail function.