NCJ Number
103871
Date Published
1986
Length
169 pages
Annotation
Based on data from 175 police organizations, this study comparatively examines whether police agency structure is significantly constrained by agency size, technology, and selected environmental variables (population size, mobility, complexity, and the type of local government).
Abstract
The analysis used two existing data sets: the Ostrom study (1979) of 106 municipal police agencies serving central cities and a mail survey of police departments serving large resident populations, conducted by the Kansas City Police Department (Missouri). Correlation coefficients and t-tests were used to test hypotheses, and graphics and regression equations were used to interpret detected relationships. Although the selected variables did account for much of the variance in agency spatial and functional differentiations, hierarchical differentiation, occupational differentiation, and administrative overhead were not substantially restricted by agency size, technology used, or environmental influences. Overall, the findings indicate that the variables examined do not significantly constrain police managers in their efforts to tailor organizational structure to serve management goals. 32 tables, 10 figures, chapter notes, appended methodological discussions, 80-item bibliography, and a subject index.