Data were collected by means of questionnaires mailed to chief executives of 517 local police agencies and all State organizations in March 1996. The chief was asked to forward the questionnaire to the commander of the agency's planning and research units. The response rate was 71 percent. Results revealed that police planners often contact other police organizations to obtain information to use in planning and research. These requests are systematic. Planners choose the agency to contact based mainly on whether the other agency faces the same problems and issues they do and whether the other organization has a good reputation. These communication relationships are not normally tied to individuals; instead, they are more institutionalized and stable. Communication is mainly by telephone; emerging technologies such as e-mail and the Internet offer significant promise. The 403 agencies receive an average of 22 requests for information each year. Responding to requests places a significant demand on planning unit resources. Findings suggest the desirability of encouraging the network of communication among police organizations, providing resources to support information dissemination, and continuing NIJ efforts to enhance the research capacity of police agencies. Additional recommendations, tables, footnotes, and appended study instrument and list of agencies participating in the survey
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