NCJ Number
188451
Journal
American Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: Fall 2000 Pages: 77-92
Date Published
2000
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This research describes the problems with drug distribution and drug-related crime experienced by a large urban public housing authority, as well as by its residents and the police.
Abstract
The research took place in the city that was home to the fictionally named Bright Leaf Housing Authority, which had more than 19 properties and 2,100 housing units in a medium-sized southern city. Focus-group interviews and a door-to-door survey produced a description of the residents’ perceptions of crime, disorder, and the impact on their lives. Results revealed that more than half the residents considered the sale of illicit drugs to be the central public safety issue within their community. Drug use, shots fired, and loitering juveniles also stood out as major problems in the minds of the residents. Half the residents named nonresidents as the primary violators on housing authority property. In addition, people living in properties with high crime rates gave lower ratings to the frequency of police patrol, police effectiveness, police respect for citizens, and satisfaction with police service than did residents of properties with low crime rates. Knowledge of and participation in crime prevention programs were also low. Focus groups produced similar responses. In addition, an analysis of the community-policing response to the problems in the public housing revealed implementation problems that called into question some of the underlying assumptions that advocates of community policing often took for granted. Findings indicated the need for policymakers to remember that introducing community policing into blighted areas will not solve problems immediately and that only a long-term effort by the police and the public housing authority will gain residents’ support and active participation. Tables and 41 references (Author abstract modified)