ASSESSMENT OF THE VICTIM (VICTIM INPUT ON CRIME TREND BY INCIDENT MEASUREMENT) PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 39190
• Author(s): B K BRITTON; R S BARON; A K SANDERS; S S FOX
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 33 pages
• Grant Number(s): 74-DF-07-0006
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Iowa Crime Cmssn
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A DES MOINES POLICE DEPARTMENT PROJECT TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND PROVIDE BURGLARY VICTIMS WITH CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION THROUGH FOLLOW-UP VISITS BY POLICE OFFICERS.

Abstract

THIS REPORT ALSO ASSESSES THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE VICTIM (VICTIM INPUT ON CRIME TREND BY INCIDENT MEASUREMENT) PROJECT AIDED IN THE SOLUTION OF BURGLARY CASES INVOLVED BY GENERATING NEW LEADS, ETC. SUBJECTS WERE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES - VICTIMS WHO WERE CONTACTED BY THE POLICE, NON-CONTACTED VICTIMS, AND NON-VICTIM CONTROLS. ALL THREE GROUPS WERE ADMINISTERED A QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGNED TO ASSESS ATTITUDES TOWARD THE POLICE AND CONTACTED VICTIMS ALSO RECEIVED PAMPHLETS CONTAINING BURGLARY PREVENTION LITERATURE. THE MAJOR FINDINGS INCLUDE THAT AMONG ALL GROUPS, THERE IS A SLIGHTLY POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD POLICE; THAT CONTACTS BY THE VICTIM STAFF HAD NO APPRECIABLE IMPACT ON VICTIM ATTITUDES; THAT CONTACTS RARELY PROVIDED ADDITIONAL LEADS; AND THAT INFORMATION LEFT WITH THE CONTACTED VICTIMS WAS REMEMBERED. A RECOMMENDATION IS MADE THAT EXPERT FEASIBILITY STUDIES PRECEDE PROJECTS OF THIS NATURE IN THE FUTURE. DOCUMENTS USED IN THE VICTIM-CONTACT AND POST-CONTACT SURVEYS AND THE PROJECT'S TELEPHONE CONTACT PROCEDURE ARE APPENDED....EB