NCJ Number
53381
Date Published
1978
Length
14 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE EVALUATED FOR A CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM AIMED AT INCREASED CITIZEN AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN CRIME PREVENTION AND A REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENT OF PART I CRIMES.
Abstract
THE LA CROSSE, WIS., POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED $17,778 TO ESTABLISH A SPECIALIZED CRIME PREVENTION UNIT. INCREASED CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND A REDUCTION IN THE INCIDENCE OF PART I OFFENSES, SPECIFICALLY AUTO THEFT, BURGLARY, AND THEFT, ARE THE GOALS OF THE UNIT. THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WERE PROPOSED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION: (1) APPROACH 20 TO 30 PERCENT OF THE BUSINESS PEOPLE AND HOMEOWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON THE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT; (2) DEVELOP A POLICE-SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM IN ALL JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS; (3) PRESENT CRIME PREVENTION SEMINARS TO 40 CIVIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUPS; AND (4) ESTABLISH A CRIME PREVENTION COUNCIL IN EACH OF THE FOUR SENIOR CITIZEN HIGH-RISE COMPLEXES. IN ORDER TO EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS ON CRIME RATES, DETAILED INFORMATION WAS GATHERED ON THE TARGETED PART I OFFENSES. DATA WERE TAKEN FROM POLICE INCIDENT REPORT FORMS AND CODED ACCORDING TO A DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT. BASELINE DATA INCLUDED CRIMES OCCURRING BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1, 1977 AND JANUARY 31, 1978. MOST OF THE PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ARE JUDGED TO HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT THE PROJECT IMPACT ON TARGETED CRIME HAS HAD MIXED RESULTS. AUTO THEFT CLEARANCE RATES HAVE INCREASED ALONG WITH AUTO THEFT RECOVERY RATES, BUT THE INCIDENCE OF AUTO THEFT HAS INCREASED. THE DOLLAR LOSS RESULTING FROM BURGLARY HAS DECREASED. COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS BELIEVED TO HAVE AFFECTED AN INCREASE IN BOTH CITIZEN TARGET-HARDENING PRACTICES AND COMPLAINTS TO THE POLICE. CRIME PREVENTION FUNDS HAVE BEEN MADE A LINE ITEM IN THE LA CROSSE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET, THUS ASSURING A CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT AFTER FUNDING EXPIRES. TABULAR DATA ON TARGETED CRIMES FOR THE STUDY PERIOD ARE REPORTED. (RCB)