NCJ Number
171256
Journal
Policing Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1997) Pages: 292-310
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
In looking at how peer emulation, cosmopolitanism, and risk mediation influence policing innovations, this study indicates that many police departments use informal communication networks to support organizational decisionmaking and that the nature of communication is influenced by the participation of police department executives in policy development and by efforts to reduce the police department's perceived risk of civil liability.
Abstract
Although no studies of the policing innovation process have been reported, studies of the reasons why police agencies adopt certain policies for domestic violence are used to examine whether factors that explain changes in domestic violence police policies can be applied more globally to other policing innovations. The model used to examine relationships among factors has four elements: cosmopolitanism, risk mediation, peer emulation, and innovativeness. The analysis supports a general model of the communication and adoption of policing innovation. Cosmopolitanism leads directly to the adoption of policing innovation because police managers have a stake in new programs. Cosmopolitanism also leads to increased peer emulation because police departments communicate better. More risk-averse police departments engage in peer emulation and are more innovative. The extent of innovation in police departments is a function of the adoption of innovations and of a department's assessment of its innovativeness with respect to other departments. Implications of the analysis findings are discussed. 36 references, 5 notes, 6 tables, and 2 figures