NCJ Number
16751
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 9 Issue: 7 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1973) Pages: 557-611
Date Published
1973
Length
55 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF STUDY TO DETERMINE FACTORS WHICH LEAD TO DIFFERENCES IN CRIME RATES IN 30 OF THE LARGEST UNITED STATES CITIES, AND THOSE ACTIONS WHICH WERE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING CRIME.
Abstract
THIS REPORT FOCUSED ON DETERMINING HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO THE POLICE AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING CRIME. CITIES WHICH SEEM THE MOST AND THE LEAST SUCCESSFUL IN CRIME CONTROL WERE COMPARED. THE COUNCIL ON MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE (COMP) FOUND THAT BETTER PROTECTION AGAINST CRIME CAN NOT BE PURCHASED MERELY BY HIRING MORE POLICE OR RAISING POLICE SALARIES. THE MOST IMPORTANT DETERMINANTS OF CITY CRIME RATES - INCOME INEQUALITY AND RACIAL COMPOSITION - WERE BEYOND MUNICIPAL CONTROL. THE CRIME RATES FOR THE CITIES STUDIED WERE ADJUSTED BY COMP TO TAKE THESE TWO FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT. MAYORS IN THE 30 CITIES CONSISTENTLY NAMED THE COURTS AS A MAJOR OBSTACLE IN FIGHTING CRIME. NONE OF THE FIVE CITIES WITH THE BEST CRIME CONTROL RECORDS COMPLAINED OF INADEQUATE FUNDING, EVEN THOUGH THESE CITIES TENDED TO HAVE FEWER POLICE PER CAPITA. FOUR OF THE FIVE CITIES CITED POLICE-COMMUNITY COOPERATION AS AN IMPORTANT CRIME-FIGHTING WEAPON, WHILE ONLY ONE OF THE FIVE WORST DID SO.