NCJ Number
91294
Date Published
1982
Length
77 pages
Annotation
To improve its response to the problem of sexual assault, the police department of Madison, Wis., should develop new relationships with ex-offenders who are living in the community and with the staff of the Division of Corrections who are responsible for supervising them.
Abstract
The police department should develop a better team effort in relation to corrections, using case conferencing and other means of open sharing of information. In addition, the police should replace its generally adversarial relationship with ex-offenders to one which is both supportive and effective in identifying those ex-offenders who commit new crimes. To accomplish these goals, a member of the police department should become a police-corrections liaison officer. This officer would serve as the principal contact with the Division of Corrections, as the coordinator of whatever changes or new programs are required within the police department, and as the officer who might carry out specific aspects of the program. Other recommended actions are immediate notification of the police regarding persons under supervision as probationers or parolees, assessment by the police department of persons newly placed under supervision, joint staffing of difficult cases, training, and periodic meetings of supervisors. An analysis of data on recidivism among sexual offenders and on characteristics of sexual offenders and a description of the current relationships among the ex-offenders, the police department, and corrections are supplied. Data tables and appendixes presenting background information are included. For related volumes on the problem-oriented approach to police service, see NCJ 91292, 91293, and 91295.