A multimethod approach to community evaluation of police performance

Carlson, Helena M.; Sutton, Markley S.

doi:10.1016/0047-2352(81)90072-6

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Surveys can be used to assess officer performance, police services, and policecommunity relations as well as to help police structure their priorities, alert police to local problems, and evaluate community-policing programs (Beck et al, 1999;Carlson and Sutton, 1981;Gnagey and Henson, 1995;Hesketh, 1992;Marenin, 1989;Oettmeir and Wycoff, 1998;Peak et al, 1992;Percy, 1986;Skogan, 1975;Thurman and Reisig, 1996;Weisel, 1999). The US Department of Justice has even published two guides to help police departments survey citizens (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 1993;Weisel, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of the police

Brown

Benedict

2002

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies &Amp; Management

570

120

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This research updates and expands upon Decker’s article “Citizen attitudes toward the police: a review of past findings and suggestions for future policy” by summarizing the findings from more than 100 articles on perceptions of and attitudes toward the police. Initially, the value of research on attitudes toward the police is discussed. Then the research pertaining to the impact of individual level variables (e.g. race) and contextual level variables (e.g. neighborhood) on perceptions of the police is reviewed. Studies of juveniles’ attitudes toward the police, perceptions of police policies and practices, methodological issues and conceptual issues are also discussed. This review of the literature indicates that only four variables (age, contact with police, neighborhood, and race) have consistently been proven to affect attitudes toward the police. However, there are interactive effects between these and other variables which are not yet understood; a finding which indicates that theoretical generalizations about attitudes toward police should be made with caution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of the police

Brown

Benedict

2002

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies &Amp; Management

570

120

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“…What is deemed to be 'good' performance can differ between these various stakeholders. For example, Carlson and Sutton (1981) found that although police and citizens share similar views about negative police actions and performance (such as poor officer capacity for impartiality, compassion, respect for feelings and non-prejudicial attitudes), police definitions of good police performance failed to predict citizen definitions of good police performance.…”

Section: Traditional Methods Of Measuring Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, Myhill et al (2011) suggest that public surveys about police performance should include constructs of procedural fairness, police legitimacy (in terms of the representativeness of community values in local policing), and public intentions of compliance, cooperation and willingness to report crime and provide information. Charbonneau and Riccucci (2008) argue that ‘social equity’ (in terms of fair treatment) should be included in measures of police performance. In addition, Stanko and Bradford (2009: 322) suggest four measures of public confidence to indicate police performance: ‘perceptions of police effectiveness, fairness of personal treatment, level of police engagement with the community, and local people's concerns about local disorder’.…”

Section: Alternative Methods For Measuring Police Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

From the aspirational to the tangible: Mapping key performance indicators in Australian policing

Hine

Davenport-Klunder

2022

International Journal of Police Science & Management

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Police performance is particularly difficult to measure. Most police agencies tend to rely on traditional metrics of effectiveness (such as crime statistics and public surveys) which are recognised as being problematic by researchers and policing authorities. Policing too has shifted in recent times with a move away from reactive policing approaches towards more desirable proactive and community-orientated styles of policing. Subsequently, there is a growing body of research which proposes new and alternative methods of measuring police performance that addresses some of the problematic validity and reliability issues of the traditional metrics and incorporates these new policing styles. This study maps the key performance indicators reported by Australian policing agencies. It aims to identify what is being measured and how it is being measured. To do this, Australian policing agency annual reports were analysed both quantitatively with descriptive analysis and qualitatively using thematic analysis. Overall, the study found that although there are some attempts at incorporating new alternative metrics, policing agencies in Australia mostly rely on traditional metrics for reporting effectiveness. These findings are discussed in terms of opportunities to enhance or expand current reporting practices.

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“…Decker (1980) examines police productivity using indicators of output, while Stevens, Webster and Stipak (1980) focus on response times. Carlson and Sutton (1981) and Stevens and McDavid (1981) compare how police and citizens define good performance. Similarly, Brown and Coulter (1983) examine the influence of subjective and objective measures in assessing police performance and Parks (1984) looks at the link between the objective and subjective indicators by studying response times.…”

Section: Early Work: Pre-1990smentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some Part 1 and Part 2 crimes were more likely to be cleared with faster response times, but it was unclear whether this was due to selection bias by responding officersit is suggested police may respond quicker when a clearance is more likely. Carlson, H.M., and Sutton, M.S. (1981).…”

Section: Early Work: Pre-1990smentioning

confidence: 99%

Police performance measurement: an annotated bibliography

2015

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This study provides information to assist those involved in performance measurement in police organisations. The strategies used to identify the literature are described. Thematic sections cover; general overviews; methodological issues; performance management in other industries; national, international and cross-national studies; frameworks (e.g. Compstat; the Balanced Scorecard); criticisms (particularly unintended consequences); crime-specific measures; practitioner guides; performance evaluation of individual staff; police department plans and evaluations; annotated bibliographies in related areas, and; other literature. Our discussion offers two conclusions: the measures best aligned with performance are typically more expensive, while most operational data should only provide contextual information; the philosophy of open governance should be pursued to promote transparency, accountability and communication to improve police performance.

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A multimethod approach to community evaluation of police performance

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

Perceptions of the police

Perceptions of the police

From the aspirational to the tangible: Mapping key performance indicators in Australian policing

Police performance measurement: an annotated bibliography

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