NCJ Number
73125
Date Published
1980
Length
108 pages
Annotation
A 15-month evaluation of the Oakland, Calif., Comprehensive Crime Prevention Program (CCPP), which began in late 1978, provides a description of individual programs and goals, assesses citizen participation, and makes a series of recommendations for program improvement.
Abstract
The Oakland CCPP sought citizen participation at all stages and levels of program activities through involvement in policymaking on local district boards and a Central Coordinating Council composed of police and community development reporesentatives. In addition, the District Liaison assigned to each Community Development District was to act as a bridge between the local District Board and the Oakland Police Department. Local CCPP staff also conducted police crime prevention services and encouraged local citizen involvement in other projects, such as youth boards, neighborhood fairs, safe neighborhood promotions, and direct restitution projects. CCPP activities included 50 staff and community meetings, a survey of 200 Oakland police officers, and interviews with 50 citizens and activists. An evaluation of these activities found that citizen participation in CCPP was initially limited. In addition to organizational difficulties and police resistance to citizen input, ongoing and serious police-community conflicts over police shootings and affirmative action programs in the Oakland Police Department thwarted police and community cooperation. However, good faith efforts to resolve differences coupled with efforts of District Liaisons in Stimulating local CCPP activities have improved the level of citizen invlvement in later stages of the program. It is recommended that steps be taken to ensure continuance of District Liaison representatives and to provide them with training. Also, citizen participation mechanisms, such as the District Board, should be expanded, and there should be increased efforts to link CCPP and police field activities. Six appendixes provide descriptions of various phases of program evaluation, including survey operations. Seven figures are provided.