NCJ Number
193401
Date Published
2000
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This evaluation examined the implementation and impact of the Dallas Police Department’s Interactive Community Policing (ICP) program during 1995-99.
Abstract
The longitudinal evaluation examined the program’s activities, barriers to implementation, and the program’s effects. Data came from annual telephone surveys conducted during 1996-99 with a total of 4,325 Dallas residents and written surveys completed by all ICP officers and additional randomly selected police officers, including 607 in 1996, 594 in 1997, 698 in 1998, and 518 in 1999. The analysis used qualitative and quantitative methods. Results revealed that barriers to implementation included resource issues, lack of acceptance by patrol, citizen issues, and coordination of city services. Solutions included added equipment, educating patrol officers by having them ride with ICP officers, focusing of efforts in areas where citizens wanted to be involved, development of a database, and establishment of service coordinating teams. Results of citizen surveys revealed mixed results on perceptions of social disorder in high ICP areas, overall reduction in fear of crime, and a decline in the use of security measures. Victimization rates were similar in high ICP and low ICP areas. Citizen knowledge of the ICP program remained relatively low. Citizen ratings of police performance varied by neighborhood and participant ethnicity. ICP officers believed that the ICP program was likely to reduce crime, improve relationships with citizens, improve police presence, and improve citizen perceptions. Non-ICP officers agreed that community policing would improve citizen perceptions and relationships with the police, but believed that ICP would have little effect on crime, responses to calls, police-minority relations, or citizen complaints. Nearly all ICP and non-ICP officers regarded crime prevention as a joint responsibility of the community and the police.