BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS OF A ST. LOUIS STUDY WHICH EXAMINED THE IMPACT OF THE SPEED AND QUALITY OF POLICE RESPONSE TO A REPORTED VICTIMIZATION ON THE VICTIM'S EVALUATIONS AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE LOCAL POLICE.
DATA WAS ANALYZED FROM 800 REPORTED VICTIMIZATIONS IN 44 NEIGHBORHOODS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND INVOLVING 29 LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. PERCEIVED SPEED OF RESPONSE WHEN POLICE ARE CALLED TO THE SCENE OF A VICTIMIZATION HAD A SUBSTANTIAL ASSOCIATION WITH THE RESULTING CITIZEN SATISFACTION. A MARKED INCREASE IN SATISFACTION WAS NOTED WHEN THE POLICE TOOK SOME POSITIVE ACTIONS - FILLING OUT A REPORT, QUESTIONING A SUSPECT, CHECKING THE PREMISES, OR RECOVERING STOLEN PROPERTY (WHERE RELEVANT). FOR A MORE DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THIS STUDY, SEE NCJ-36786.