NCJ Number
142857
Date Published
1993
Length
105 pages
Annotation
This study examines how police will manage technology in the future so that officers are not isolated from the community.
Abstract
It consists of two reports: a technical report that details the process and methodology of the study and a journal article that summarizes the conclusions of the technical report and provides a recommendation for the future. The technical report is composed of major sections on a futures study, strategic management, and transition management. Nominal group technique was used to forecast trends and events that could impact the issue. The events were forecast to be a nationwide recession; police response only to "in-progress" calls; computer fluency mandated for all officers; voice activated, "fuzzy logic," laptop computers for officers; and State-mandated electronic monitoring of all police contacts. Trends were forecast to be changes in technology, changes in funding sources, changes in community expectations of police, the impact of regionalization, and changes in skills and qualifications for police officers. From these events and trends, scenarios and policy statements were developed. Using a modified policy delphi panel, a strategic management plan proposes several strategies and ways to use them so as to move the agency into the future. A transition management plan shows how the policies and strategies can be sold to stakeholders, what structure is required to implement the plan, and how reporting and feedback will keep the organization moving toward its goals. Support includes tables, charts, two appendixes, endnotes, and a bibliography.