Compstat Essay

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Compstat has improved policing ever since it was introduced in the 1990s. Compstat is a system that is used by police agencies to reduce crime as well as achieving other departmental goals. Some of department goals are developing good relationship with the community as well as empowering commanders together with their subordinates. It focuses on sharing information, responsibility, fostering accountability, as well as improving tactics used to solve crime. Although, it has also been criticized for been incompatible with the community, inflexible and undermining some goals of policing, it is still acknowledged as an important organizational development in policing during the latter half of the 20th century (BJA, police executive research …show more content…

For instance groups such as the task forces, robbery suppression teams, narcotics units and SWAT (special weapons and tactics). Individually these groups have skill sets that are effective in fighting specific crimes. However collectively the combined skills of these groups can be fully effective in fighting crime and bring about reduction at the same time. One of compstat strengths is that it encourages teamwork between different groups within a precinct and different precincts within a department. This is one advantage of compstat it allows the flow of information. In Shane’s article he mentioned that to attaining realistic results, teams would have to join resources in order to achieve it (Shane, 2004).
For crime to be reduced relentless follow-up and assessment should be done. It encourages progressive review of the department to ensure reduction in crime patterns; annual meeting are held to review statistics and crime reports. This meeting ensures that departments, commanders, supervisors and patrol officers are executing effective strategies and proper use of resources. At the same time it could be mean reprimanding commanders in front of their subordinates which is a setback for a program which seek to empower (Shane, …show more content…

Organizations are encouraged to adapt and changes their tactics to combat crime. The method has also been adopted by other law enforcement agencies. Other agencies including Los Angeles police department and Philadelphia police department. For example, Bill Bratton took it to Los Angeles Police Department, John Timoney brought it to Philadelphia and Gary McCarthy broaden compstat in Chicago (BJA, 2012).
In conclusion, compstat as a model can be viewed in differently. From a Police Department’s perspective compstat couldn’t have come any time sooner. For the Chief Commander it could be bittersweet; bring both success, sometimes issues but might create negative vibe from his/her subordinates. But for the patrol officers compstat is what shapes his/her relationship with the community and as well as community views on their job to protect their

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