Police Innovations and the Structure of Informal Communication Between Police Agencies: Network and LEMAS Data

摘要

This study examined (1) the pattern of informal communication ties between police agencies and (2) the influence of network contacts on adoption of innovations and change in agency practices. To study the structure of the police network, we used Weiss (1997a) data set, Communication of Innovation in Policing in the United States (ICPSR No. 2480), on informal contacts between police planners at different city, county and state police agencies. We then also used the network data in models to predict adoption of or change in agency practices as indicated in the Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) data sets for 1997, 1999 and 2000 (ICPSR No. 2700, No. 3079 and No. 3565), with some supplementary data drawn from the Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies 2000 (CSLLEA; ICPSR No. 3484). Concerning the structure of network ties, models for the general characteristics of the named contact show that features of the responding agency significantly influenced the choice of network contact.