NCJ Number
36539
Date Published
1973
Length
53 pages
Annotation
THIS SIX-MONTH PROJECT, DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF ROBBERY AND NON-RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES, INCREASED PREVENTIVE PATROL IN TWO HIGH CRIME AREAS OF ATLANTA DURING HIGH CRIME HOURS ON HIGH CRIME DAYS.
Abstract
EIGHTEEN MEN WORKING TWO TO A CAR WERE ALLOCATED TO THE PREVENTIVE PATROL UNITS ON AN OVERTIME BASIS FOR PREVENTION, INTERCEPTION, AND APPREHENSION BEGINNING IN AUGUST 1972. THIS PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN TO OFFSET MOUNTING CRITICISM OF IMPACT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION DELAY BY PUTTING A VISIBLE OPERATIONAL PROJECT 'ON THE STREETS.' THE EVALUATION METHODOLOGY EMPLOYED INCLUDED A BEFORE-AFTER, CONTROL-EXPERIMENTAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND APPREHENSION DATA. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A DECREASE IN NON-RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES AND A DISPLACEMENT OF BURGLARIES FROM OVERTIME TO NON-OVERTIME PERIODS DURING THE PROJECT, THE SAME RESULTS WERE ALSO OBSERVED IN THE CONTROL AREA. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE EXACTLY THE EFFECTS OF THIS PROJECT, THE RESULTS OBTAINED DID NOT WARRANT EITHER ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE DATA OR CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT. A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE EVALUATION DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY IS INCLUDED.