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NATIONAL EVALUATION OF SELECTED PATROL STRATEGIES, PHASE 1 - PRODUCT 4 - ASSESSMENT OF THE KNOWLEDGE ON A SPECIALIZED PATROL

NCJ Number
30383
Author(s)
A J ANDREWS; M R BURT
Date Published
Unknown
Length
196 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT IS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE DATA RELIABILITY, ASSESS SUCCESS AND FAILURE, AMASS A KNOWLEDGE BASE, AND IDENTIFY MAJOR GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE.
Abstract
METHODS ARE DESCRIBED FOR RATING THE RELIABILITY OF EVALUATIONS, CRIME FIGURES, AND EXPERT (POLICE) OPINION. THESE RELIABILITY RATINGS ARE USED IN RATING SUCCESS AND FAILURE ON THREE/POINT SCALES. MAJOR FINDINGS RELATED TO SUCCESS AND FAILURE INDICATE THAT HIGH/LOW VISIBILITY PATROLS ARE MORE EFFECTIVE AT APPREHENSION THAN DETERRENCE WHILE THE REVERSE APPEARS FOR THE HIGH VISIBILITY AND LOW VISIBILITY PATROLS. RESEARCHERS CONCLUDED THAT A SOUND KNOWLEDGE BASE ON SPECIALIZED PATROLS DOES NOT EXIST, ALTHOUGH TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS INDICATE THAT THE COMBINED USE OF CIVILIAN DRESS AND UNIFORMED TACTICAL TACTICS MAY BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL APPROACH AND THAT MECHANICAL DEVICE TACTICS ARE GENERALLY COSTLY AND INEFFECTIVE. MAJOR GAPS RELATE TO THE NEED FOR TESTING PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS, SELECTIONS CRITERIA, TACTICS, METHODS, COST-EFFECTIVENESS, PERFORMANCE, AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. FOR THE OTHER PARTS OF THIS SIX-PART REPORT, INCLUDING A LITERATURE SEARCH, SELECTED PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS, A REPORT ON PROJECT MEASUREMENT, STUDY DESIGNS FOR EVALUATIONS, AND A 66-PAGE BIBLIOGRAPHY, SEE NCJ-30380 THROUGH 30382 AND 30384 AND 30385. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)