NCJ Number
29093
Date Published
Unknown
Length
23 pages
Annotation
PAPER WHICH PROPOSES A SYSTEM OF CITIZEN EVALUATION OF POLICE PERFORMANCE, CONSIDERS THE IMPACT OF THIS TECHNIQUE ON POLICE BEHAVIOR, AND REPORTS THE RESULTS OF A PILOT FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THIS EVALUATION APPROACH.
Abstract
THE TYPE OF CITIZEN EVALUATION SUGGESTED INVOLVES CONDUCTING FOLLOW-UP INTERVIEWS OF CITIZENS WHO HAD CALLED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SERVICE. THE BALTIMORE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THIS TECHNIQUE, CONDUCTED SUCH A FOLLOW-UP STUDY. HALF THE FOLLOW-UP SAMPLE WAS INTERVIEWED BY POLICE OFFICERS AND HALF BY PROFESSIONALLY RECRUITED AND TRAINED CIVILIAN INTERVIEWERS. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT THIS TYPE OF EVALUATIVE RESEARCH ON THE QUALITY OF POLICE SERVICE IS HIGHLY FEASIBLE, SINCE COOPERATION FROM RESPONDENTS WAS GENERALLY EXCELLENT, AND RESPONDENTS SEEMED MORE THAN WILLING TO VOLUNTEER THEIR IMPRESSIONS. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MAJORITY (75 PERCENT) OF CITIZENS WHO CALL POLICE FOR SERVICE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE POLICE. ANALYSIS OF A RACIAL DIFFERENCE IN SATISFACTION REVEALED THAT BLACKS WERE CONSISTENTLY MORE CRITICAL THAN WHITES OF THE QUALITY OF POLICE SERVICE, EVEN THOUGH THE SERVICE RECEIVED WAS COMPARABLE TO THAT PROVIDED TO WHITES, EXCEPT FOR A SLIGHTLY LONGER POLICE RESPONSE TIME. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DISSATISFACTION OF BLACKS WAS DUE, AT LEAST IN PART, TO A GENERALLY LOWER OPINION OF THE POLICE. A BRIEF LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.