ROCHESTER (NY) POLICE DEPARTMENT - MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS - FINAL/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REPORT

• NCJ Number: 57562
• Author(s): T F HASTINGS
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 514 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-NI-02-0003
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Rochester Police Dept
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

LEAA-STATED GOALS AND ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, POLICE DEPARTMENT GRANT OBJECTIVES FOR A PROJECT TO IMPROVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS EFFECTIVENESS ARE DISCUSSED AND EVALUATED.

Abstract

THE PROPOSAL/CONTRACT FOR THE INVESTIGATIONS PROJECT HAD THE FOLLOWING LEAA-STATES GOALS: (1) REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS PERFORMING TRADITIONAL CASE ASSIGNMENTS/FOLLOWUP TASKS BY REASSIGNING THEM TO OTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITIES; (2) DEVELOP A MORE EFFECTIVE ONSCENE INVESTIGATION PROCESS BOTH TO REDUCE THE TIME REQUIRED FOR FOLLOWUP WORK AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS AND PROSECUTIONS; (3) IMPLEMENT A CASE SCREENING SYSTEM BASED UPON A DECISION MODEL THAT WILL SERVE TO SUSPEND CASES WHICH ARE UNPROMISING FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AT SPECIFIED POINTS IN THE INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS; AND (4) DEVELOP MORE THOROUGH CASE PREPARATION PROCEDURES BASED UPON INCREASED COMMUNICATION WITH THE PROSECUTOR AND THEREBY GAIN BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE AND REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CASES DISMISSED. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED UNDER EACH OF THESE GOALS ARE DESCRIBED. THE ROCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT FURTHER DECIDED UPON CERTAIN OBJECTIVES IT WISHED TO ATTAIN BEYOND LEAA'S STATED GOALS: (1) DEVELOP A SET OF OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES AND IMPLEMENT A TRAINING PROGRAM AIMED AT MAKING FIELD SUPERVISORS EFFECTIVE MANAGERS OF THE DECENTRALIZED INVESTIGATIVE SYSTEM; (2) DEVELOP CASE PREPARATION CRITERIA AS THE BASIS FOR DETERMINING THAT THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION IS READY FOR THE PROSECUTION; (3) VALIDATE THE STANFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE CRITERIA FOR CASE SCREENING FOLLOWING ONSCENE INVESTIGATION TO PROVIDE FOR PROMPT SUSPENSION OF UNPROMISING CASES BASED UPON EVIDENCE OBTAINED AT THIS STAGE; AND (4) IMPROVE REPORTING FORMS AND PROCEDURES TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF INVESTIGATIONS. THE GRANT WAS THE SUBJECT OF TWO 'INHOUSE' AND TWO PRIVATE EVALUATIONS. THE LOCAL EVALUATION AND A RESPONSE TO THAT EVALUATION BY THE PROJECT DIRECTOR ARE INCLUDED AS ATTACHMENTS. THE PRIVATE EVALUATIONS ARE STILL UNDER CONSIDERATION. ATTACHMENTS ALSO INCLUDE A COPY OF THE FINAL FINANCIAL REPORT AND THE MANAGING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS SUPERVISOR MANUAL.