The Right Decision-Police.Indd

THE RIGHT DECISION Evidence-based Decision Making for Police Service Professionals Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Foundation Paul S. Maxim, Len Garis, Darryl Plecas and Mona Davies THE RIGHT DECISION Evidence-based Decision Making for Police Service Professionals Paul S. Maxim, Len Garis, Darryl Plecas and Mona Davies © 2015 Paul S. Maxim About the Authors Paul Maxim, Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University Paul Maxim obtained his MA in criminology at the University of Ottawa and his PhD in sociology at the University of Pennsylvania where he specialized in criminology and research methods. He is currently a professor in the Department of Economics and the Balsillie School of International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. His primary areas of research interest are population and labour economics. Len Garis, Adjunct Professor, University of the Fraser Valley Fire Chief for the City of Surrey, British Columbia, Len Garis and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley, a member of the Affi liated Research Faculty at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, and a faculty member of the Institute of Canadian Urban Research Studies at Simon Fraser University. His focus is on addressing public safety challenges through evidence-based decision making and innovation. Darryl Plecas, Professor Emeritus, University of the Fraser Valley Darryl Plecas is Professor Emeritus in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the Fraser Valley. Prior to his retirement, he held the RCMP Senior University Research Chair at UFV. He received the University’s Teaching Excellence Award, and in 2003 received an Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award at the Fourteenth International Conference on College Teaching and Learning. He has published numerous articles relating to Canadian criminal justice. He also has extensive experience in applied policy and program evaluation, and effective decision making. Mona Davies, Legal Analyst Mona Davies has an LL.B. from the University of London and her Masters in Political Science from the University of Toronto. She also has a professional degree from the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. She has worked both in the private and public sectors with over 10 year’s experience in international law, specializing in investor state arbitration. The Right Decision: Evidence-based Decision Making for Police Service Professionals Table of Contents 2 Forward 3 Introduction 17 Defi ning the Problem 31 Thinking Critically 43 Collecting Evidence Canadian Association of Chiefs 55 Statistics of Police Research Foundation 67 Experimental Designs This project was commissioned by 79 Costing Analysis the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Research Foundation, 97 Making Decisions which seeks to create and develop the highest standards of effectiveness in law enforcement through research. Other partners include the City of Surrey, British Columbia and the University of the Fraser Valley, B.C. For more information about this book This manual was adapted from or its authors, contact Dr. Irwin M. Th e Right Decision: Evidence-based Cohen at the Centre for Public Safety Decision Making for Fire Service and Criminal Justice Research in the Professionals, developed through the School of Criminology and Criminal support of the Canadian Safety and Justice at the University of the Fraser Security Program, led by Defence Valley, at [email protected] or 604- Research and Development Canada’s 854-4553. For additional public safety Centre for Security Science, in publications, please visit www.cjr.ufv.ca partnership with Public Safety Canada. Page 2 Forward Canadian police services are key to Transparent decision-making model maintaining public order and security, Social & but their capital and labour costs can economic Evidence- pose signifi cant fi nancial challenges. Strategic +=costing based planning analysis decision Police service professionals make crucial making decisions regarding the level of service they can provide their communities and the Evidence-based decision making is not demands they are going to place on those new. Rather, it is a framework that brings communities. In an effort to stay current together strategic planning with social and improve their effectiveness, Canadian and economic costing analysis within a police services have begun to adopt transparent decision-making model. innovative approaches to: (1) rethinking what services are of highest priority; (2) This manual provides an overview of generating improved outcomes; and (3) some of the more crucial components of better controlling service delivery costs.1 evidence-based decision making. Some of Policing is one of the major budget items the material may appear a little daunting for most cities and municipalities. at fi rst. But we would ask that you read it in small chunks and go over it more than While understanding the invaluable once. As with any volume of this type, the role of police services, both the public material often makes more sense when and municipal leaders are asking that linked to a problem or issue in your own signifi cant decisions be based on hard organization. Overall, we hope you fi nd this evidence. Questions such as what are manual useful in improving your decision police forces’ underlying strategic value making and justifying your choices. and what are the associated costs and benefi ts are commonly raised. For their assistance, we would like to thank: Saanich Police Chief Cst. Robert Downie, This manual has been created to help Ottawa Police Cst. Ian Matyas, Surrey Fire decision makers address those concerns. Service Strategic Planning Analyst Alex Evidence-based decision making is Tyakoff, and Dr. Charles Jennings, Director one of the more effective tools you of the Regenhard Centre for Emergency can use to rationalize why a particular Response Studies at the John Jay College of approach or program option was chosen. Criminal Justice in New York. 1. Research Brief No. 31. Police Performance Metrics http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/plc-prfrmnc-mtrcs/plc-prfrmnc-mtrcs-eng.pdf The Right Decision: Evidence-based Decision Making for Police Service Professionals Page 3 Introduction Effective Decision Making in a Changing World While the primary function of police departments has remained consistent The days are gone—if, indeed, they ever over time—to ensure the safety and security of all persons and property— existed—where government and taxpayers how departments deliver their services take a request for more equipment is becoming more complex. Crime rates and more personnel at face value. have generally declined over the past two decades, but the public is increasingly asking police departments to respond to and taxpayers take a request for more a broader range of calls. Those calls often equipment and more personnel at face require more sophisticated equipment and value. Politicians, city managers and higher better or differentially trained personnel. executives are increasingly forced to make Furthermore, many jurisdictions have choices within tight resource constraints. been asking its police services to integrate their functions with other fi rst responder More than ever, leaders in police agencies to include fi re services and departments need to make decisions in emergency medical services. ways that are transparent and justifi able. Good decision making, we will argue, As a result, leaders and managers needs to be informed as much as continually face this question: How can possible by evidence, research, and sound we provide quality service in light of more information. We term this approach complex demands while being sensitive evidence-based decision making. We to resource and economic restraints? make and justify evidence-based decisions Choices and trade-offs need to be made, by referencing independently supported and consequences need to be considered. and verifi able facts. This approach helps The pressure increases on decision makers ensure that the decisions we make are when politicians, municipal staff, and sound and defensible. Used effectively, ultimately, the public scrutinize these evidence-based approaches can help you decisions. The days are gone—if, indeed, produce the results for which you are they ever existed—where government searching. Page 4 So why is evidence-based research important? Why does this approach to problem solving matter for police This manual will help you: services? Among some key reasons are the following: 1. Find and use information and research to make • Policies and programs that are not evidence-based decisions. guided by sound evidence frequently cost too much, waste resources, or 2. Put your decisions simply yield poor or unknown results; • External decision-makers who into a compelling approve departmental budgets may framework to convince not view departmental requests as others of their merit. justifi ed if they lack compelling evidence; and • Policies and strategies that are evidence-based often produce Yet, even in those circumstances, better results, which can increase evidence-based decision making can your credibility and support for the help you link the values, principles, and department as a whole. ideologies that guide your department to independent evidence and supportive This manual will help you understand research. how to fi nd and use the information and research needed to make

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