Community-Driven Disorder Reduction: Crime Prevention Through a Clean and Green Initiative in a Legacy City

• NCJ Number: 255801
• Journal: Urban Studies Dated: 2020
• Author(s): Jesenia M. Pizarro; Richard C. Sadler; Jason Goldstick; Brandon Turchan; Edmund F. McGarrell; Marc A. Zimmerman
• Date Published: 2020
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2014-AJ-BX-0011
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Evaluation; Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the effects of a neighborhood greening and beautification strategy called "Clean & Green" on crime prevention and reduction.

Abstract

Point level data for all Part I index crimes and "Clean & Green" efforts in the study area from 2005 to 2014 were analyzed using spatial and linear regression with two key modifications: (1) controlling for temporal and spatial dependencies between points; and (2) allowing for potentially non-linear temporal trends in the effect of cumulative greening. To accommodate those modifications, generalized additive models (GAMs) were employed. The analyses of violent and property crimes suggest that greening efforts are increasingly protective over time. The findings demonstrate that the elimination of blight and disorder via neighborhood greening and beautification efforts can be an effective tool for crime prevention and control in communities. 3 tables, 3 figures, and 40 references (publisher abstract modified)