COMPSTAT and Organizational Changes: A National Assessment

PROJECT SUMMARY FOR 98-IJ-CX-0070
Police departments across the country are turning their attention to COMSTAT as an innovation in police organization that combines state-of-the-art management principles with cutting edge crime analysis and geographic information systems technology. COMPSTAT was implemented as a measure to control crime and improve the quality of life in New York City.

This proposal identifies the elements that full implementation of COMPSTAT demands: mission clarification, geographic organization of operational command, data-driven analysis of problems and assessment of the department's problem-solving efforts, effective tactics, organizational flexibility and internal and external accountability.

The proposed project will: 1) provide a national profile of COMPSTAT in American police agencies, what police agencies are doing and planning pertaining to the COMPSTAT elements; 2) describe patterns and identifies varieties, if any; 3) provides an in-depth process evaluation of model programs that describes how COMPSTAT actually works at all levels in the organization. Three research methods will be used: a national survey, sites visits of up to 20 departments, and intensive field observations at three COMPSTAT sites.