NCJ Number
157428
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Dated: (Winter 1994) Pages: 21-40
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Since community policing is based on specific theoretical assumptions, this paper presents methodological guidelines needed to examine basic, yet often neglected, theoretical components of community policing.
Abstract
Stated objectives of community policing include reducing fear of crime and increasing community cohesion, in part through decreasing physical and social disorder. Scales were developed to measure cohesion, disorder, and fear of crime in a sample of 377 adults in a midwestern city. The survey instrument was based on social scientific literature and was piloted with police officers and members of neighborhood organizations. Results indicated that the Cohesion Scale had an alpha coefficient of 0.74, the Disorder Scale had an alpha coefficient of 0.92, and Fear of Crime had an alpha coefficient of 0.82. In addition, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the internal structure of measures and construct saliency. Factor analysis confirmed the presence of cohesion, disorder, and fear of crime and replicated the structure derived from theoretical analysis. In general, findings demonstrate baseline quantitative techniques required to evaluate community policing. 56 references, 1 endnote, and 9 tables