NCJ Number
43458
Date Published
1975
Length
117 pages
Annotation
EVALUATION OF THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF AN ALEXANDRIA, VA., PROJECT TO REDUCE TARGET CRIME IN A SPECIFIED GEOGRAPHICAL AREA DURING A SPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME IS PRESENTED TOGETHER WITH SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.
Abstract
AREAS OF HIGH BURGLARY AND ROBBERY INCIDENCE WERE SELECTED FOR THIS TARGET PROGRAM, PART OF A STATEWIDE PROJECT SPONSORED BY THE VIRGINIA DIVISION OF JUSTICE AND CRIME PREVENTION. SINCE THE PROGRAM HAD BEEN IN OPERATION ONLY FROM JULY 1974 THROUGH JANUARY 1975, THE RESULTS WERE NOT AS POSITIVE AS IF A FULL 12-MONTH PERIOD HAD ELAPSED. HOWEVER, IT WAS FOUND THAT BURGLARIES INCREASED LESS IN THE TARGET AREAS THAN IN THE CITY AS A WHOLE (6 PERCENT COMPARED TO 21 PERCENT). ROBBERY INCREASED 12 PERCENT IN THE TARGET AREA AND 50 PERCENT IN THE CITY AS A WHOLE. THE ROBBERY INVESTIGATION COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT HAS MET WITH LITTLE SUCCESS, BUT THE BURGLARY CLOSURE RATE INCREASED TO 15.9 PERCENT IN THE TARGET AREA, COMPARED TO 10.7 PERCENT THE THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND 9.3 PERCENT FOR THE CITY AS A WHOLE. THE USE OF AN ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY IN INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN A QUALIFIED SUCCESS; MEANS OF CLOSER COOPERATION NEED TO BE WORKED OUT. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, DUE TO MODERATE EFFORTS AND CITIZEN APATHY. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CITIZEN INTEREST, NO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WERE FORMED. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CRIME ANALYST WERE SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE DATA FOR USE IN DEPLOYMENT OF PATROL PERSONNEL. TRAINING MET WITH SOME SUCCESS BUT MORE WAS NEEDED FOR MAXIMUM IMPACT. FACILITIES HAVE BEEN TOO SMALL AND SUCH OF THE EQUIPMENT WAS LATE IN ARRIVING. SINCE A DATA PROCESSOR WAS NEVER HIRED, THE DATA ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM WAS NEVER IMPLEMENTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM REALIZE THAT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS ARE TOO POOR TO AFFORD GREATER HOME SECURITY AND THAT DIFFERENT MANAGEMENT GOALS BE IMPLEMENTED TO INCREASE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PATROL ACTIVITY BE INCREASED, THAT USE OF FULL-TIME OFFICERS IN THE TARGET AREA BE CONSIDERED, AND THAT THESE EFFORTS BE HIGHLY VISIBLE. MORE CLERICAL SUPPORT AND BETTER FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED. MEMORANDUMS RELATING TO THE PROJECT AND QUESTIONNAIRES USED IN THE SURVEY ARE APPENDED.