KIRKLAND (WA) COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM UPDATED EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 43617
• Author(s): S WEIN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): 76-C-0051
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: King Cty Law and Justice Planning Office
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF THE SECOND 15 MONTHS OF A COMMUNITY-BASED BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM SHOWS THAT THE INITIAL DROP IN BURGLARY RATES HAS LEVELED OFF AND A RISE HAS BEGUN; RENEWED EFFORTS ARE RECOMMENDED.

Abstract

IN 1974, KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, INSTITUTED A BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM CONSISTING OF AN ACTIVE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, AN 'OPERATION IDENTIFICATION' PROGRAM WHICH ENCOURAGED ENGRAVING OF BELONGINGS WITH THE DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER OF THE OWNER, RESIDENTIAL SECURITY INSPECTIONS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD 'BLOCK WATCH' GROUPS. INITIAL EVALUATION, CONDUCTED IN 1975, FOUND THAT THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES DROPPED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 14.2 PER MONTH BEFORE THE PROGRAM BEGAN TO 9.8 DURING THE FIRST 15 MONTHS OF PROGRAM OPERATION. RATES FOR PARTICIPATING HOUSEHOLDS WERE 1.25 BURGLARIES PER 100 HOUSEHOLDS; FOR NONPARTICIPATING, 4.30. THIS INDICATES THAT THOSE PARTICIPATING WERE MORE CAUTIOUS AT THE OUTSET. THE FIRST 15 MONTHS OF PROGRAM OPERATION RATES DROPPED TO 0.58 FOR PARTICIPATING AND 2.53 FOR NONPARTICIPATING HOUSEHOLDS. DURING THE SECOND 15 MONTHS, RATES ROSE TO 1.14 AND 2.72 RESPECTIVELY. THE REASON FOR THE INCREASE MAY BE INCREASED REPORTING. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM MAY BE WEARING OFF. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM ENTER ITS FOURTH YEAR WITH RENEWED AGGRESSIVENESS.