You are a police detective working in the Criminal Intelligence branch. Using the SARA model construct a brief written plan about how you will scan, analyze, respond, and assess the below scenario.
Scenario. Everybody is in an uproar at Hometown High School. Somebody did a job with spray cans on the high school. The graffiti looks suspiciously like something you saw at a recent drive-in conference on gangs. Other teachers in the lounge mention the fact that this stuff has also been showing up on buildings around town. While this discussion is going on, the librarian says that she picked up some hard copy dropped beside one of the computers that looks like it might be about some outfit that labels itself "Growth and Development" and its contents seem to be directed toward some kid with the computer screen name "Deaddog." The contents seem to have something to do with how one goes about establishing a "Growth and Development" chapter in Hometown (hint: the Gangster Disciples use this name to camouflage their movements by using words that start with "G" and "D") and talks about something called "tagging." The school board has called a special meeting to talk about this problem. You remember that a new kid has come to town from Detroit. He also seems to be wearing his clothes a certain way and constantly has on colors that you vaguely remember the speaker at that gang conference talked about. The new kid has generated quite a following. He seems to have a lot of money, a new car, and a number of kids that are hanging with him.
This worksheet issued by officers as a guide to each of the SARA problem solving steps. It will assist in drawing attention to the various components of the problem, as well as keeping track of all aspects and variable that need to be collected.
SCANNING
Describe the problem (be specific):
What is the problem?
What are the times and locations?
How did this come to your attention?
Who is affected by this problem? (List who these people may be)
Direct victims
Indirect victims
Suspects
Witnesses
Businesses
Are there environmental concerns?
What is being done or has been done to solve the problem?
Is this a police issue? In what way? Who else should be involved?
ANALYSIS
What information would be useful to have in order to effectively solve this problem?
How will you obtain this information?
Did you interview all of the concerned parties?
Did you discuss issue with other officers?
Did you collect data from both public and private sources?
What are your short- and long-term goals?
Other personal observations:
RESPONSE
What level of problem solving are you hoping to achieve? Check one.
Eliminate the problem
Reduce the occurrences of the problem
Reduce the amount of harm done
Remove the problem from police consideration
List as many ways as you can think of to reduce the problem to the level you desire
(Don’t worry about any obstacles at this point):
Choose the best response and provide a more in-depth description:
Whose help will you need to implement this choice?
How long will this response take?
How will you test to find out whether your response was effective?
ASSESSMENT
Maintain rapport with the original complainant (if there was one) in order to remain informed about any changes in the problem.
Maintain contact with the agencies that are assisting in problem solving efforts.
Compare crime and calls-for-service statistics for before, during and after the
Compare residents’/neighbors’ attitudes towards the problem before, during and after the intervention.
Did you reach the level you were hoping for?
What are some of the positive outcomes/side-effects of your response?
What are some of the negative outcomes/side-effects of your response?
Are additional resources still needed?
What can be done to make the project more successful/effective?