Problem, Definition of

Definitions are important. They guide behavior, influence actions, and provide the context and scope for all activities that follow. Effective problem-solving projects, which are central to community policing efforts, require clearly defined and prioritized public safety problems that agencies seek to address. Clear problem definitions set the stage for improved analysis, response and evaluation efforts, as the absence of a clearly defined problem can result in wasted time and effort because of a lack of focus. This entry describes the ways that problems are defined in a policing context and emphasizes the importance of proper definition to maximize problem-solving efforts.

Problems in the policing context have been defined as a cluster of similar, related, or recurring incidents; a substantive community concern; or a unit of police business. Problems can also be defined by their characteristics including a type of behavior [Page 296](graffiti, burglary); a place where they occur (a local convenience store, bar); a person or persons who are involved (repeat burglary victims, a repeat perpetrator of domestic violence); or time they take place (immediately after school). A problem may also be defined as a combination of the above. For example, a problem may be defined as the robbery of single-family homes, the burglary of convenience stores, or gun violence by youthful offenders. In its most basic form, a problem can be thought of as two or more incidents similar in one or more ways that is of concern to the police and a concern for the community.

Agencies use a variety of methods to identify and prioritize problems to determine if they warrant the investment of police resources that may be driven by those responsible for the specific problem-solving effort, including officers, crime or problem analysts, and sergeants. These efforts may include analyzing police data to look for patterns and trends regarding repeat offenders, victims, and locations. They can involve using crime mapping to look for clustering of certain types of problems or types of offenders, interviewing officers who may recognize recurring problems, and examining police reports. Problems can also be initially identified by feedback from community members through surveys of business owners and residents or participating in community meetings. Community feedback may be especially important, because agencies often find that the problems that they prioritize may not be the same problems that are of most concern to the citizens they serve.

After an initial problem is selected, agencies typically have to redefine the problem in order to ensure that it is properly focused. Frequently, agencies need to further specify the problem as the initial definition may be too broad. For example, “illegal drugs” is not a clearly defined problem. Defining drug-related problems so broadly reduces the effectiveness of responses as illegal drugs represent a compilation of a variety of other problems. The illegal drug problem in any community is exceedingly complex to analyze and understand, and potential responses would likely be much too broad to achieve clearly defined outcomes. Analysis and response efforts will be much more effective with a more clearly defined problem related to illegal drugs that identifies specific aspects of the problem, as the type of illegal drug, or the behaviors, offenders, victims, or locations involved or the specific times that it occurs most frequently. For example, an improved definition may begin with identifying locations such as street corners or apartment complexes; specifying the offenders like unemployed youth or high school students; the type of substances like alcohol or marijuana; or the kinds of behaviors involved such as impaired driving or street-level selling. Specifying the problem increases the chances for success, because it results in more refined analysis and an improved understanding of the problem that produces more focused responses.

...