NCJ Number
102062
Date Published
1980
Length
69 pages
Annotation
This evaluation of the effectiveness of foot patrol in three districts of Montclair, N.J., (begun in 1976) measured citizen crime reporting and arrests 3 years before and 3 years after the institution of foot patrol.
Abstract
Since the relevant literature indicates that foot patrol assists in reducing crime and increasing officer arrests, this study hypothesized that reported crime will decline after the introduction of foot patrol, and arrest productivity will increase following the use of foot patrol. Data on crime reporting and arrests were obtained from departmental records for the central, north, and south patrol areas. A one-tailed t-test at the .10 level was used to test for statistical significance. Findings indicate that foot patrol significantly reduced reported crime only in the central patrol area. The other two areas experienced reductions in reported crime but not to a significant degree. Reported robberies and purse snatchings dropped 53 percent in the central area. Burglary reports did not drop significantly. Arrest rates were not significantly affected by foot patrol in any of the districts. 8 tables, maps, and 22 references.