NCJ Number
164736
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 23 Issue: 4 Dated: (December 1996) Pages: 553-571
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
The quality of handling of people in police custody and the organizational characteristics affecting this quality were studied in 60 of the 197 police organizations with detention facilities in the Netherlands.
Abstract
Data were collected by means of observations of the detention facilities; reviews of documents; and interviews with one randomly selected police employee providing custodial care, the employee's direct supervisor, and two randomly selected detainees. The interviews focused on caretaking procedures. The police employee providing custodial care also completed a questionnaire on job satisfaction and contacts with superiors. Results revealed that none of the police agencies followed all the governmental laws and procedures relating to issues such as the provision of appropriate food, attorneys' free access to detainees, monitoring for physical condition, and visitors. Although most organizations fulfilled the bulk of the criteria for good performance as supported by public opinion, some agencies provided poor care to detained persons. Findings also indicated that the chances of good treatment were the highest in police organizations with a high degree of specialization and standardization. Tables and 37 references (Author abstract modified)