Homework Clinic

Social Science Clinic => Law and Politics => Topic started by: schs14 on Jul 31, 2020

Title: What is COMPSTAT? And, what are some of the unintended benefits of COMPSTAT?
Post by: schs14 on Jul 31, 2020

Question 1

Is there an acceptable staffing formula? What is the preferred formula?

Question 2

What is COMPSTAT? And, what are some of the unintended benefits of COMPSTAT?

Title: What is COMPSTAT? And, what are some of the unintended benefits of COMPSTAT?
Post by: ErinKing on Jul 31, 2020

Answer 1

The answer should include the following points:

• There is no universally accepted or preferred staffing formula-for every staffing formula there is an equal and offsetting formula.


• Stripping away all of the statistical variables, the formulas currently dissolve into two questions with a single answer. Questions: How many officers does my agency have per thousand? How many officers do other agencies have per thousand? Answer: We need more officers!


• So many officers per thousand is a nonsensical staffing formula unless tied to work output and outcome values.


• Police managers tend to request more staff because of a magical thousand-per-officer standard. Police leaders are likely to ask for more staff because it will directly influence accepted police values while holding themselves accountable.

Answer 2

The answer should include the following points:

• COMPSTAT is a workable statistical measuring tool developed by officials in New York City to monitor and evaluate police department effectiveness.


• There are six reasons why COMPSTAT has set the standard for other police agencies:




1. Oversight. It produces hard data that external overseers want.


2. Accountability. It makes managers accountable for their performance.


3. Reliable. The data is objective, simple, and behaviorally anchored.


4. Rewards. Police managers are rewarded based on meeting or exceeding performance markers.


5. Transparent. The performance reviews are frequent and open to public scrutiny.


6. Clarity. Everyone is clear about measurables and markers.


• Three unintended benefits of COMPSTAT are:




1. Teamwork. The police managers are required to meet regularly (weekly) and share with one another their successes as well as deficiencies.


2. Innovation. While representing separate unit commands, the managers find they can rely on one another for ideas on how to improve their operations.


3. Interest. COMPSTAT removed the boredom out of the traditional "staff meeting" that most found useless and ho-hum.