NCJ Number
160967
Date Published
1994
Length
103 pages
Annotation
Community policing reform in Aurora, Ill. was evaluated with respect to its implementation progress during its second year and its problemsolving efforts.
Abstract
The Aurora/Joliet Neighborhood-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Demonstration Project was funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and matching funds from the Illinois General Revenue. Its goal was to reduce criminal activity, thereby improving the quality of neighborhood health, reducing fear of crime, and increasing community confidence. The analysis revealed that the program's central objectives during the second year were to reduce middle management opposition to community policing, improve job performance incentives, reduce workload demands, and improve internal communication and cooperation regarding community policing activities. However, most of these objectives were unattainable during the second year, and the implementation of community policing and problemsolving would remain problematic for a second year. The program also focused on increasing community engagement and networking of resources during the second year. Three distinctive problemsolving projects focused on reducing crime in Eastwood, addressing street prostitution in the downtown, and addressing drug law offenses in the Sage Crest Apartments. The level and type of community outreach varied as a function of the individual officers. No guidelines were available to officers interested in promoting community participation in policing. Overall, organizational readiness for community policing was lacking. 4 references