Urban Profile of Governmental Responses to Crime in Indianapolis, 1948-1978

• NCJ Number: 83494
• Author(s): H Pepinsky; P Parnell
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 111 pages
• Grant Number(s): 78-NI-AX-0096
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Northwestern University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Part of the Northwestern University Governmental Responses to Crime Project

Annotation

Crime trends are examined for each mayoral administration in Indianapolis from 1948 to 1978, and the politics of government response during each administration are considered.

Abstract

Criminal justice issues played a small role in mayoral elections during the 31 years studied. Local issues have had little impact on mayoral politics, compared to party strength and the force of personalities. Fiscal constraint has been a theme in both Democratic and Republican administrations, such that police requests for additional resources have either been diluted or rebuffed. The mayor has both formal and, if desired, effective power over police management, and such power does not depend on police support. The criminal justice system overall and the police in particular have found it difficult to gain increases in budget allocations, notably for salaries and a new jail. Law enforcement attained its greatest visibility during the corruption and brutality scandals of 1954, 1964, and 1974. Efforts by the police department to generate governmental and public support have tended to be dramatic and overstated to the point of creating a credibility problem. (Author summary modified)