How long does it take? An exploration of the time between case assignment and a detective's first investigative activity. (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fallik, Seth Wyatt
• Is Part Of: Police practice & research. Volume 20:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 185
• Page End: 200
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: Case processing -- delayed justice -- police -- detective -- discretion; Police -- Periodicals; Police administration -- Periodicals; Law enforcement -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1080/15614263.2017.1419132
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1561-4263

Abstract

Abstract: Citizens and victims perceive the criminal justice system to be protracted. Blame for lengthy delays has disproportionately fallen on detective work. To that end, these analyses explore how long it took 184 detectives to work index crimes. Data suggest that more serious crimes, cases with a known suspect, and offenses that did not result in an arrest are most likely to be investigated and worked more promptly by detectives. Detectives, however, continue to exercise a great deal of discretion in if and when cases are worked once they are assigned. These findings are discussed as they relate to police performance indicators, the allocation of departmental resources, issues of crime control, and citizen satisfaction with the police.