NCJ Number
12290
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 1 Dated: (1973) Pages: 93-111
Date Published
1973
Length
19 pages
Annotation
DEFINITION OF CONCEPTS OF OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY, AND SUGGESTION OF METHODS FOR MEASURING THEM TO EVALUATE EFFECT OF POLICE ORGANIZATION REFORMS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR CONTENDS THAT MOST PROPOSALS FOR CHANGING THE ORGANIZATION OF POLICE SERVING METROPOLITAN AREAS ARE PRESENTED WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENTLY ORGANIZED POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN SERVING URBAN AREAS. THIS PAPER DEVELOPS SOME POTENTIAL MEASURES FOR COMPARING OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY. A SIMPLIFIED SCHEME IS PRESENTED WHICH DIVIDES POLICE ACTIVITIES INTO FOUR TYPES AND DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS OF MEASUREMENT FOR EACH TYPE. WHILE THE AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXTENSIVE DIFFICULTIES IN ANY ATTEMPT TO MEASURE THE OUTPUT AND EFFICIENCY OF POLICE AGENCIES, SHE CONTENDS THAT SUCH EFFORTS MUST BE UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE SUCCESS OF PAST REFORMS AND PREDICT FUTURE SUCCESSES OR FAILURES WITH HIGHER DEGREES OF ACCURACY. WITHOUT SUCH EFFORTS, SHE STATES, FUTURE CHANGES MAY PRODUCE MORE HARM THAN GOOD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)