NCJ Number
158379
Date Published
1994
Length
330 pages
Annotation
This research examined whether community-policing programs designed to improve the quality and quantity of information on illegal gun-carrying can increase the number of recovered firearms and subsequently impact firearm and violent crime in a program area.
Abstract
The study used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with before-after measurements of offense data and community attitudes. Findings show that the proactive tactics used did not increase information available to the police nor result in the increased recovery of firearms. On the other hand, firearms recovered as a reactive byproduct of the intensive enforcement of a "hot-spots" directed patrol with a firearm- recovery focus significantly increased the number of recovered firearms. These patrols also produced a significant reduction in violent and firearm-related crime in the program area compared to previous-year offenses and to the "control" area. Additionally, this community-policing model positively affected community residents' attitudes and their level of fear. An exploratory analysis was conducted to examine the firearm-recovery situation for all firearms recovered in the program and comparison areas. By showing variation in productivity of different policing activities, this analysis suggests that police work with a firearm-recovery focus can be an efficient use of police time compared to other routine police work. 32 tables, 20 figures, and 130 references