Criminology Lecture 2/25

Chapter 1: Know That Number

Geographic Areas in Policing

  • Different terms are used to describe subdivisions of areas within a city or county:

    • Beats

    • Spoiled areas

    • Creasing

    • Divisions

  • These subdivisions are crucial for accountability and ensuring officers are responsible in specific geographic areas.

Staffing Based on Demand

  • Staffing levels in police departments are determined by the number of calls for service received.

  • Software programs are utilized to analyze:

    • Busy times of day

    • Busy days of the week

311 Non-Emergency Number

  • To alleviate pressure on 911 systems, some jurisdictions have implemented a non-emergency number, 311.

  • 311 can be called when police assistance is needed but the situation does not constitute an emergency.

  • The public often lacks knowledge of their local police department's emergency number, leading to overuse of 911 for non-urgent matters.

Chapter 2: Call To Call

Implementation of 311

  • The introduction of 311 offers the public a dedicated line for non-emergency police calls, freeing up 911 for priority emergencies.

  • Studies have been conducted in jurisdictions that use 311 to assess its effectiveness.

Differential Police Response

  • Agencies are adopting differential police response methods to manage the workload of officers.

    • Some police departments may not respond to certain non-emergency calls in person.

    • These non-urgent reports can be filed over the phone instead.

  • This strategy reduces the strain on officers and helps them manage their time more effectively.