NCJ Number
61083
Journal
Policy Studies Journal Volume: 7 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 486-493
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DATA ARE EXAMINED WHICH INDICATE THE CURRENT MAGNITUDE OF POLICE-CITIZEN COPRODUCTION OF SAFETY IN URBAN AREAS, AND MODES OF MEASURING COPRODUCTION ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
INDIVIDUAL/HOUSEHOLD SELF-PROTECTIVE ACTIVITIES ARE EXAMINED TO ILLUSTRATE THE CURRENT LEVEL OF CITIZEN COPRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY AND PERSONAL SAFETY. A SURVEY OF CITIZENS IN 60 NEIGHBORHOODS LOCATED IN THREE METROPOLITAN AREAS--ROCHESTER, NEW YORK; TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA; AND ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI--WAS CONDUCTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 1977. APPROXIMATELY 12,000 CITIZENS IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS WERE INTERVIEWED BY TELEPHONE ON SUCH TOPICS AS THEIR PERCEPTIONS OF, EXPERIENCES WITH, AND EVALUATION OF LOCAL POLICE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS THE TYPES OF COPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES THEY AND THEIR FAMILIES HAD UNDERTAKEN. A STARTLING FINDING WAS THE NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS THAT HAVE ADDED EXTRA SECURITY LOCKS TO THEIR HOMES (OVER HALF). ABOUT 30 PERCENT CLAIMED TO HAVE PLACED IDENTIFICATION MARKINGS ON HOUSEHOLD PROPERTY, 22 PERCENT PURCHASED A WATCHDOG, AND 22 PERCENT BOUGHT LIGHT-TIMING DEVICES. THIRTEEN PERCENT OF THOSE INTERVIEWED SAID THEY HAD PURCHASED SOME WEAPON FOR SELF-PROTECTION. WHILE THERE IS SOME DIFFERENCE IN THE SELF-PROTECTIVE MEASURES UNDERTAKEN ACCORDING TO INCOME, THERE IS APPARENTLY LESS VARIATION BETWEEN RACIAL GROUPS. TO USE CITIZEN COPRODUCTION MOST EFFECTIVELY, THE IMPACT OF TYPES OF COPRODUCTION ON COMMUNITY SECURITY AND SAFETY MUST BE EXAMINED. THE FIRST STEP IS TO IDENTIFY AND MEASURE COPRODUCTION, AND THE NEXT STEP IS TO ASSESS COPRODUCTION'S EFFECTS ON SAFETY AND SECURITY IN THE COMMUNITY. A VARIETY OF RESEARCH METHODS CAN BE USED: CITIZEN SURVEYS, BUSINESS SURVEYS, EXAMINATION OF POLICE AGENCY RECORDS, ELITE INTERVIEWING, AND OBSERVATION OF POLICE ACTIVITY. NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)