Date of Award
2002
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Department
Criminology and Criminal Justice
Abstract
The topic of police management and its effect on officer arrest rates is an important issue that has not received the level of attention it deserves. There is an abundance of available training and a push for better trained police executives. In the present study the relationship between police administrative factors and officer arrest rates are addressed using data from a national probability sample of police departments.
The study uses ordinary least squares regression to analyze the independent relationship between police administrative factors, as measured by the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, and officer arrest rates, as measured by the Uniform Crime Reports.
Findings indicate that there are several administrative factors that significantly affect officer arrest rates. Officers from agencies that use problem oriented policing strategies have significantly higher rates of arrest for overall crime and specifically violent crime only. Officers who are issued marked take-home patrol cars have significantly higher rates of arrest for overall crime. However, officers that are allowed personal use of their patrol cars while off-duty have significantly lower rates of arrest for overall crime. Violent arrests rates were also positively affected by the presence of a union for sworn personnel.
This study advances knowledge of effectiveness of police management on actual job performance. Findings suggest that police administrators should continue to focus efforts at problem-solving to maximize job performance within their respective agencies.
Rights
© 2002, Irick Anthony Geary Jr.
Recommended Citation
Geary, I. A.(2002). The Effects of Administrative Factors on Police Officer Job Performance. (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/7023