NCJ Number
180512
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Problem-oriented policing is viewed as an extension of investigative work and as an effective approach to addressing community problems and investigating crimes.
Abstract
Problem-solving and traditional police detective work require investigators to ask difficult questions, and both require evaluating conflicting sources of information to arrive a coherent explanation of the cause of the problem or the perpetrator of the crime. Problem-solving and investigative tasks require the ability to work independently on small problems and cases and in teams on larger endeavors. Investigations represent a small part of policing, so the scarcity of investigative problem-solving may reflect the proportion of police in investigations. Some individuals believe that it is difficult to decentralize police detectives and bring them closer to the community and that police detectives do not have adequate time to address problems because of their caseloads. Others feel that police detectives prefer to focus on catching offenders rather than preventing crimes. Nonetheless, organizational change is recommended to encourage police departments to employ problem-solving approaches in their fight against crime. 7 references