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An Examination of Police Officers’ Insights Into Problem Identification and Problem Solving

Department of Criminal Justice, California State University, San Bernardino

Larry Gaines

Department of Criminal Justice, California State University, San Bernardino

Problem solving begins with problem identification. Conventional knowledge suggests that because patrol officers work specific geographical areas (beats) on a fairly constant basis, they come to see where the problems exist; thus, police experience alone can be relied on to identify crime problems. However, few have examined whether officers are effective in identifying problems in their areas. This research examined the consistency of officer problem identification across focus groups for an entire police department in terms of the kinds of problems identified, the location of problems, and the suggested responses. Although there was little consistency across focus groups, officers were able to identify specific sites or properties thought to generate high levels of disorder-related calls. Solutions to crime problems tended to involve increased police presence for complex problems affecting areas and crime prevention for specific sites facing single-crime problems.

Key Words: problem-oriented policing • problem solving • scanning • hot spots • crime location • focus groups • disorder

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