VIPS Registered Program Analysis Results

In spring 2009, IACP surveyed registered VIPS programs via the program Web site. One hundred and fifteen law enforcement agencies responded. The information immediately below provides an overview of law enforcement volunteerism. A more detailed analysis follows.

Experience with volunteers varied significantly:

72 percent of law enforcement agencies have had volunteers for more than seven years.
The total number of volunteers ranged from two to more than 8,000.
The total number of volunteer hours contributed in the previous year ranged from 1 to 70,000.

Agencies were asked about the structure and management of their volunteer programs:

97 percent said they have a volunteer program manager or coordinator. Of these agencies, 50 percent said their managers were sworn employees.
55 percent said they coordinate Neighborhood Watch activities in their jurisdictions.
40 percent said they coordinated with an external program such as a citizen corps council, a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, or a volunteer center to recruit volunteers.

Respondents were asked to rate the importance of various factors referred to below. The following percentages of respondents indicated that the described factor was “important” or “very important:”

94 percent cited value added to the department.
92 percent cited the ability for officers to respond to more pressing needs.
90 percent cited the ability to provide additional services.
85 percent cited enhancing citizen understanding of the police.
81 percent cited liability concerns.
81 percent cited confidentiality concerns.
66 percent cited turnover of volunteers.
63 percent cited cost to administer the volunteer program.
63 percent cited required training expenses.

Additionally, 96 percent of respondents rated the contributions of volunteers to agency effectiveness and productivity as “essential” or “very essential.”

97 percent of agencies perform a records check on potential volunteers.
94 percent of agencies do not accept individuals with felony convictions.
89 percent of agencies require volunteers to undergo orientation and/or training.
88 percent have written rules and regulations governing volunteer activities.
88 percent require an interview before acceptance into the volunteer program.
88 percent require some or all of their volunteers to wear uniforms
56 percent provide some type of insurance coverage for volunteers.
30 percent formally evaluate volunteers.
26 percent provide volunteers with non-monetary benefits, services or incentives, such as training.

The full report contains the following sections:

Part I: Agency Profile
Part II: Volunteer Program Profile
Part III: Products and Resources
Recommendations
- Note: Recommendations are based on agency responses for future VIPS resources and activities.
Appendix—Detailed Responses

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VIPS Registered Program Analysis Results