NCJ Number
48433
Date Published
1977
Length
126 pages
Annotation
A PROCESS EVALUATION OF THE BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, PUBLIC HOUSING SECURITY PROGRAM IS PRESENTED. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AT EACH OF FOUR HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IS EXAMINED, AND OVERALL PROJECT IMPACT IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
AIMS OF THE PROJECT INVOLVED SIMULTANEOUSLY IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL STRUCTURES WHICH PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, WHILE DEVELOPING COMMUNITY SOCIAL STRUCTURES WHICH FOSTER A UNITY OF PURPOSE AND ENCOURAGE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION. THE PROJECT EMERGED FROM LENGTHY AND COMPLEX PLANNING PROCESSES THAT INVOLVED AGENCIES AT THE FEDERAL, STATE, MUNICIPAL, AND COMMUNITY LEVELS. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF PARTICIPATING HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDED A SERIOUS CRIME PROBLEM, INTENSE FEAR OF CRIME, AND A REASONABLE CHANGE FOR SUCCESSFULLY REDUCING CRIME. FOUR DEVELOPMENTS WERE CHOSEN AND INDIVIDUALIZED SECURITY PLANS WERE DEVELOPED FOR EACH COMMUNITY PROJECT. THESE FOUR PROJECTS WERE THE COLUMBIA POINT SECURITY PROJECT, THE COMMONWEALTH COMMUNITY SECURITY PROJECT, THE MISSION HILL SAFETY AND SECURITY INTERVENTION PROJECT, AND THE VOLUNTARY RESIDENT PATROL PROJECT. THE PATROL PROJECT WAS INTENDED TO FUNCTION IN ALL FOUR DEVELOPMENTS BUT WAS SUCCESSFUL ONLY IN ONE. OVERALL PROJECT GOALS WERE TO INCREASE TENANT INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME CONTROL, INCREASE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR CRIME CONTROL, INCREASE ACTUAL AND PERCEIVED SECURITY OF RESIDENTS, AND DEMONSTRATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A COMBINATION OF COMMUNITY ACTION, POLICE PATROLING, AND SECURITY HARDWARE IN REDUCING CRIME. GOALS, STRATEGIES, PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION, AND PROJECT IMPACT FOR EACH OF THE PROJECTS IS PRESENTED. GREATER EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON THE COLUMBIA POINT COMMUNITY SECURITY PROJECT AND ITS COMMUNITY SECURITY ORGANIZATION, YOUTH ADVOCACY SERVICES, AND THE COMMUNITY RADIO STATION. OF THE FOUR PROJECTS ONLY THE COLUMBIA PROJECT WAS IMPLEMENTED ACCORDING TO PLAN. IN GENERAL, THE PROJECTS FAILED TO MEET THEIR GOALS AND OR HARD DATA FOR EVALUATION OF GOAL ATTAINMENT WERE LACKING. ALTHOUGH THE RESULTS OF THESE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WERE NOT OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, THEY DO HIGHLIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH MUST BE CONSIDERED IN FUTURE POJECTS OF THIS TYPE. SPECIFIC PROJECT PROBLEMS INVOLVING RESIDENT TURNOVER, DATA COLLECTION, FUNDING, LACK OF QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, AND IMPLEMENTATION ARE DISCUSSED. (JAP)