The Crime Numbers Game: Management by Manipulation

by Eterno; John A.

• ISBN13: 9781439810316
• ISBN10: 1439810311
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2012-01-31
• Publisher: CRC Press

Summary

Based upon a specialized questionnaire that reveals the pros and cons of COMPSTAT (comparative statistics) and the primary research of a former NYPD captain and a police researcher, this in-depth empirical analysis of the controversial crime-fighting management system reveals the strategies and results that many have credited with the dramatic decline in New York City crime. Beginning with a historical background, the book identifies strengths and weaknesses, presents survey results, explores crime statistics, discusses practitioner views, and concludes with future directions and policy implications. For more information, check out the authors' blog. The authors' studies on crime were recently featured in a New York Times article and their comments were published on the editorial page. Their work was also cited in an Uptowner article about police manipulation of crime statistics. Silverman and Eterno described a proposed strategy for improving community confidence in the integrity of crime statistics in a January 24, 2011 Daily Newsarticle. In August 2011, Eli Silverman commented on a recent rise in NYC crime statistics in a New York Post article.

Table of Contents

Series Preface	p. xi
Foreword	p. xiii
Foreword	p. xvii
About the Authors	p. xxi
Acknowledgments	p. xxiii
Introduction	p. xxvii
The Unusual Suspects	p. 1
Police under Arrest	p. 1
Numerical Performance: Distortions and Displacement	p. 9
Compstat Conversions	p. 14
Private Sector Performance Shortcomings	p. 16
Unraveling the Puzzle	p. 18
References	p. 19
Suggested Reading	p. 22
The NYPD's Untold Story: Crime Report Manipulation	p. 23
Compstat	p. 24
Survey of Retirees	p. 28
Interviews	p. 34
Crime Victims Coming Forward	p. 36
Detective Harold Hernandez	p. 39
Hospital Data	p. 40
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Data	p. 42
Recently Released Historical Datap43
The Letter of the Law	p. 45
NYPD Complaint Reports for Illegal Drug Use	p. 47
Admitted Problems with Manipulation by the NYPD and Other Jurisdictions	p. 48
Audiotapes	p. 49
Our Report Goes Public	p. 52
Conclusion	p. 53
References	p. 54
Performance Management: Pitfalls and Prospects	p. 57
Organizational-Managerial Consequences	p. 57
Field Operations Restrictions	p. 60
Societal Consequences	p. 68
Prospects for Reform	p. 71
Performance Management in New York City: The Use of Symbolic Language	p. 73
Conclusion: The Narrative of Reform	p. 78
References	p. 80
Suggested Reading	p. 82
Police Performance Management: The View from Abroad	p. 85
Performance Policing in the United Kingdom	p. 86
Australia	p. 97
France	p. 102
Conclusion	p. 104
References	p. 108
Suggested Reading	p. 109
Big Bad Bully Bosses: Leadership 101	p. 109
The Unrelenting Pressures of NYPDCompstat	p. 109
Bullying Behaviors by Management	p. 115
Leadership	p. 130
References	p. 137
NYPD and the Media: Curbing Criticism	p. 141
The Condemnations	p. 141
Understanding NYPD-Media Spin	p. 146
The Nature of Police-Media Interactions	p. 148
The NYPD and the Media: Political Ramifications	p. 151
Promoting Favorable Stories	p. 153
Suppressing Dissent	p. 155
Marginalizing Criticism	p. 162
Conclusion-Conflicting Forces	p. 174
References	p. 179
Suggested Reading	p. 186
Compstat: Underpinnings and Implications	p. 191
Broken Windows Theory and Compstat	p. 192
Limited versus Unlimited Government	p. 198
Transparency	p. 206
Social Science Theory and NYPD Compstat	p. 208
Specific Examples	p. 214
Conclusion	p. 229
References	p. 230
Silence Is Not An Option	p. 237
Lesson Learned	p. 238
Issues	p. 240
Chapter Ramifications	p. 242
Conclusions	p. 257
References	p. 259
	p. 261
	p. 263
	p. 267
Index	p. 269
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