The first step in planning a facility is to commission a needs assessment, which should be done by a consultant with a sound grasp of the factors that influence the sizes of police departments. The study should consider a period 20 years into the future, focusing on demographic and crime trends and patterns, as well as local practices. The study should include adjacency diagrams and an analysis of cost. A thorough needs assessment gives the funding authority an objective basis on which to conduct a search for the best site for the facility. All the interested parties should be involved in the site selection process. The building process begins after the funding authority has passed an appropriation or arranged a bond issue to fund the facility. A building committee should choose an architectural firm that will develop the final design and specifications, analyze bids, and oversee the project.