NCJ Number
18190
Date Published
1974
Length
62 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EXAMINES THE POLICY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY ADMINISTRATION REGARDING RELEASE OF POLICE INFORMATION AND EVALUATES THE ADEQUACY OF THIS POLICY.
Abstract
THERE ARE THREE PRIMARY SOURCES IN THE CITY GOVERNMENT THROUGH WHICH CITIZENS CAN OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT: THE PUBLIC AND INTERNAL INFORMATION DIVISION OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CHICAGO POLICE BOARD, AND THE MUNICIPAL REFERENCE LIBRARY. THE ROLE OF EACH OF THESE AGENCIES IN GIVING POLICE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC IS EXAMINED AND THE INFORMATION WHICH IS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH EACH SOURCE IS DESCRIBED. THE FOUR BASIC CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION DISCUSSED ARE POLICE PERFORMANCE STATISTICS; RULES AND REGULATIONS, GENERAL ORDERS, TRAINING BULLETINS, AND OTHER INTRADEPARTMENTAL STANDARDS, POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET; AND REPORTS ON POLICE DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS, ANALYZED IS THE QUALITY OF INFORMATION OFFERED AND THE DEGREE OF PUBLIC ACCESSIBILITY TO THE INFORMATION. RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO SINGLE LOCATION TO WHICH CITIZENS CAN GO WITH QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE PRACTICES CREATES A SITUATION IN WHICH NO SINGLE AGENCY TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR GIVING THE PUBLIC THE INFORMATION IT NEEDS. THEY ALSO FOUND THE INFORMATION MADE AVAILABLE ON A SYSTEMATIC BASIS TO BE LACKING IN SUFFICIENT DETAIL AND CLARITY, THE PROCEDURES FOR RELEASING INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC TO BE INADEQUATE, AND THE PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING SPECIFIC CITIZEN REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION TO BE INSUFFICIENTLY COORDINATED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF A CENTRAL POLICE INFORMATION CENTER; THE STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO RECTIFY INADEQUACIES IN THE QUALITY OF POLICE INFORMATION; THE REPORTING SYSTEM WHICH SHOULD BE CREATED TO IMPLEMENT THIS INFORMATION POLICY, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROCEDURE FOR HANDLING SPECIFIC CITIZEN REQUESTS FOR POLICE INFORMATION.