NCJ Number
54315
Date Published
1978
Length
93 pages
Annotation
USING DATA FROM 4,200 BURGLARY CASES IN PORTLAND, ORE., THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF POLICE ARRESTS IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
THIS STUDY HAD THREE PRIMARY RESEARCH QUESTIONS AS FOLLOWS: (1) WHAT IS THE QUANTITY OF POLICE ARRESTS AND HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO CASE PROSECUTION RATES, (2) WHAT IS THE QUALITY OF POLICE ARRESTS AS DETERMINED BY AN ANALYSIS OF THE INVESTIGATIVE THOROUGHNESS IN CASES PRESENTED BY THE POLICE TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, AND (3) WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE CASE MONITORING SYSTEM ON QUALITY OF POLICE INVESTIGATION AND POLICE ARRESTS? FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF QUANTITY OF POLICE ARRESTS ONLY THOSE REPORTS WITH ARRESTS OR CLEARED BY ARRESTS WERE USED; FOR QUALITY OF POLICE ARRESTS, A BURGLARY ARREST FILE WAS USED. EACH ARREST FILE WAS ANALYZED IN THREE DIFFERENT WAYS. EVALUATIONS WERE MADE OF HOW ADEQUATELY THE PARTICULAR OFFENSE INVOLVED WAS DESCRIBED, THE LEVEL AND DESCRIPTION OF AVAILABLE EVIDENCE, AND THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION CONTENT OF THE REPORT FILE AS A WHOLE. THE DATA USED IN THE ASSESSMENT OF THE MONITORING SYSTEM CONSISTED OF BURGLARY ARREST FILES, BURGLARY CRIME REPORT FILES, AND INTERVIEWS WITH POLICE OFFICERS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE QUALITY OF POLICE ARRESTS IN THE REGION SURVEYED IS VERY HIGH. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE CASE MONITORING SYSTEM DID NOT INCREASE THE QUALITY OF POLICE INVESTIGATION OR POLICE ARRESTS. FUTHERMORE, THE CASE MONITORING SYSTEM HAD NO USE FOR EVALUATING OR TRACKING POLICE INVESTIGATIONS AND DID NOT MEET THE GOALS ORIGINALLY DEFINED FOR THE SYSTEM. A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS PROPOSED. TABLES, FLOW CHARTS, AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED -- MLC)