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Dashboard Management: A Public Safety Application

NCJ Number
210183
Journal
Campus Law Enforcement Journal Volume: 35 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2005 Pages: 16-19
Author(s)
Henry L. Christensen; William Gerlach MPA
Date Published
March 2005
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The University of Miami Department of Public Safety uses a management tool called a "Dashboard" to show whether public-safety goals and objectives are being achieved on campus.
Abstract
Data pertinent to established goals and objectives are gathered and presented graphically through the Dashboard, with most presented as statistical control charts. The Dashboard is constructed in a Microsoft Excel workbook. The first page displays the goals, key objectives, key indicators, related tasks, and assignments. Software links the key indicators with the data to show whether or not public-safety objectives are being achieved. The Dashboard is updated regularly, generally monthly, based on the data for each indicator. Once implemented, a Dashboard will show, with just a few mouse clicks, how the organization is doing in relation to its goals and objectives. Crime trends can be observed as they are developing, and statistical analysis can determine whether certain types of crimes need special attention beyond what is currently being done. Since implementing the Dashboard, it has shown that campus crime has remained below the 10-year moving average for total crime on campus. Without such a system to provide an ongoing measurement and analysis of campus crimes in relation to time frames and objectives, there is no continuous means for determining how a campus security system is performing. 3 figures