As we usher in a new year, this can be a time of healthy reflection for us as individuals, families, organizations, and a community. The Boise Police Department has this same opportunity, and we look forward to making note of what we have done well and where we have opportunities to grow.
In the coming weeks, some Boise residents who have recently requested police services will be contacted and asked to participate in a survey. This project is being conducted by a Boise Police officer working on his master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s School of Government. His research is aimed at examining two questions:
Q1: How does the amount of time that Boise City police officers spend addressing a call for service affect community satisfaction?
Q2: How does the amount of time that Boise City police officers spend addressing a call for service affect community members’ perception of procedurally just behavior?
The Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has reviewed and approved the process in accordance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols. The survey itself, developed by the National Police Research Platform, has been used in many jurisdictions across the United States. It has demonstrated effectiveness in measuring procedurally just behavior by officers as well as community satisfaction levels with service. The survey will be available telephonically, online, by email, and by paper copy. Interpretive services will also be provided as appropriate to ensure full access and opportunity.
Our goal as an organization is to provide the best possible public safety services with our available resources. We look forward to hearing from our community about how we are doing and will share the results of the survey when it is completed.
Links:
About UNC Chapel Hill OHRE and IRBs:
https://research.unc.edu/human-research-ethics/about/
About the Police-Community Interaction Survey: