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CRIME CONTROL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY (CA), 1973-1978

NCJ Number
57181
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1978
Length
48 pages
Annotation
A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIF., IS DESCRIBED THAT ENCOMPASSED PLANNING, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, SPECIFIC CRIMES PREVENTION, AND DIVERSION.
Abstract
IN 1971, THE CALIFORNIA COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (CCCJ) RESTRUCTURED THE REGIONAL SYSTEM OF CRIME CONTROL IN THE STATE AND REALIGNED IT WITH REALISTIC GEOGRAPHIC AND POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. ELEVEN REGIONS WERE REPLACED WITH 21 REGIONS, AND LOS ANGELES COUNTY BECAME AN INDEPENDENT REGION UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING BOARD. THE BOARD RECOGNIZED THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REGIONAL PLANNING PROCESS TO BE SUPPORTED BY MULTIYEAR COMMITMENTS. WITH LEAA FUNDING, A MULTIJURISDICTIONAL APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL WAS ADOPTED THAT WAS INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND REDUCE CRIME AND RECIDIVISM. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES RELATING TO PLANNING, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, AND SPECIFIC CRIMES (BURGLARY, VEHICLE THEFT, AND ROBBERY) WERE TO ESTABLISH PLANNING CAPABILITIES IN JURISDICTIONS PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS, TO EXPAND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA CAPABILITIES BY PROVIDING DATA ACCESS TERMINALS IN ALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES OF THE REGION, TO FORM COOPERATIVE INVESTIGATIVE EFFORTS IN REDUCING TARGET CRIMES, AND TO ALLEVIATE THE INCREASING WORKLOAD OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BY REDIRECTING LESS SERIOUS OFFENDERS TO RESOURCES OUTSIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE CAPABILITY TO ACHIEVE A COORDINATED AND SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL PROBLEMS WAS ENHANCED BY INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PLANNING IN MAJOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. COMMUNICATION LINKAGES WERE DEVISED THAT IMPROVED THE EFFICIENCY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH THE ABILITY OF INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS TO HAVE IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION WAS REMAINED STATIC. THE MULTIJURISDICTIONAL TEAM EFFORT RESULTED IN MORE EFFECTIVE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, A SITUATION THAT HELPED TO REDUCE CRIME DISPLACEMENT. THE DIVERSION NETWORK SERVED TO PROMOTE COOPERATION AMONG PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OFFICIALS AND AGENCIES AND WAS WELL-RECEIVED BY YOUTH. SPECIFIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS BETWEEN 1973 AND 1978 ARE LISTED. (DEP)