NCJ Number
195317
Date Published
2002
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report examines the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of utilizing narcotics-trained canines to assist university campus police departments.
Abstract
The authors of this report examined two college campuses of roughly the same size and urban location to determine whether the use of canine units in campus police agencies would be a cost-effective method of curtailing criminal behavior, particularly in terms of drug offenses. The University of Central Florida and Central Michigan University were selected for inclusion in this study. The University of Central Florida did not have a canine unit at the time this study was conducted, while Central Michigan University had recently implemented such a program; thus these schools provided excellent comparison data. The authors begin the article by reviewing the types and quantities of crimes generally found on university campuses across the country. They move on to an examination of the options for law enforcement available in university settings. Because many law enforcement options are costly, the authors point out that only two feasible options are open to university police departments: implement a canine unit or do nothing, meaning, continue current law enforcement techniques. The authors broke down these two options in terms of financial burdens and found that the implementation of canine units in campus police departments would be more cost-effective as well as more efficient in curbing the crime rates on university campuses. References, appendix