NCJ Number
10372
Date Published
1970
Length
216 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDED SYSTEMS OF CRIMINALISTICS OPERATIONS THAT MEET STATED COST BENEFIT CRITERIA WHILE SERVING LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL NEEDS.
Abstract
A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS OF THE ROLE OF CRIMINALISTICS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE WAS CONDUCTED WHICH DEFINED FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SIZE AND LOCATION OF CRIMINALISTICS OPERATIONS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT ANALYSIS, AN ESTIMATE WAS MADE OF NATIONAL DEMAND FOR CRIMINALISTICS SERVICES. A STUDY FOLLOWED WHICH INVESTIGATED THE INFLUENCE OF LAB LOCATION UPON THAT DEMAND. THESE SEVERAL ANALYSES RESULTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO QUANTITATIVE PLANNING CONCEPTS WITH WHICH TO STRUCTURE CRIME LABS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NEED. ALSO DESCRIBED ARE SEVEN MAJOR CRIME LAB LOCATION STRATEGIES WHICH ARE BASED ON OPERATIONS AT FIVE DIFFERENT LEVELS- CITY, STANDARD METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (SMSA), STATE, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL. A COST-EFFECTIVENESS IS EXPLAINED WHICH DISCRIMINATES BETWEEN LOCATION STRATEGIES RELATIVE TO PERFORMANCE AND COST INDICES. THE APPENDICES INCLUDE A LABORATORY ANALYSIS AND BUDGETING SYSTEM, A TABULATION OF CRIME LAB SERVICES, AND AN ANALYSIS AND FLOW CHARTS OF LABORATORY PROCEDURE.