ABSTRACT
There are a number of reasons for conducting surveys and focus group interviews with community members. Three are highlighted here. First, the information generated can assist in a performance appraisal of the organization. Traditional indicators of police performance, such as offenses known and arrests, have long been recognized as flawed, at least if considered uncritically. Do increased "offenses known" indicate poor police performance, or are the police being successful in convincing citizens to report their victimizations? Do increased arrests indicate good policing or rising crime? The community survey and focus group interviews can provide direct information on police performance from the agency's customers. A second goal of the community survey and focus group interviews is to support problem-solving activities within the community and to help set police priorities. Third, the community survey and focus groups can be used as part of an evaluation of specific programs.
