Results revealed that total Federal support for policing by State and local governments has been increasing in the 1990s; Federal support for overtime has also been increasing, although making precise estimates is difficult. DOJ now accounts for approximately 60 percent of the Federal Government's expenditures on overtime by State and local governments. The money invested in overtime by State and local police agencies is spent on the purposes for which it is intended. In addition, DOJ spending on overtime by local police does not replace local spending; localities spend an additional $2.65 for every dollar of Federal money invested in overtime by State and local police. Overtime money is generally provided and used for supplementing traditional programs rather than sponsoring program innovations. Federal overtime payments may enhance the quality of community policing in some agencies, but their impact is relatively slight across the country. The survey also revealed that community policing is quantitatively common but qualitatively thin in police agencies. Results also indicated that reimbursing overtime in money is preferable to reimbursing in comp time, overtime cannot be eliminated entirely, and overtime practices represent substantial possibilities for cost-savings. DOJ can help improve the management of overtime nationally by publicizing best practices of selected police departments. Senior officers' foresight through record-keeping, analysis, and supervision is crucial to improving the management of overtime. Tables and 20 references
Federal Funding of Police Overtime: A Utilization Study
NCJ Number
170614
Date Published
1996
Length
111 pages
Annotation
Ways in which State and local police agencies use funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for overtime payments to police personnel were studied by means of a review of DOJ programs providing such finding, a mail survey of a representative sample of police agencies, and case studies of overtime practices in 11 police agencies.
Abstract
Date Published: January 1, 1996