NCJ Number
30680
Date Published
1975
Length
82 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S EXPANDED TRANSIT UNIT IN REDUCING PART ONE AND TWO CRIMES ON THE SUBWAY, INCREASING CLEARANCE RATES, AND REDUCING CITIZENS' FEAR OF USING THE TRANSIT SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE REPORT ASSESSES THE FACE VALUE OF REPORTED CRIMES BEFORE AND AFTER THE ADDITION OF 60 PERSONNEL TO THE TRANSIT UNIT, AND ANALYZES THE FINDINGS OF A TWO-PART PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY. STATISTICS SHOW AN INCREASE IN REPORTED PART ONE AND TWO CRIMES AFTER THE UNIT'S EXPANSION, WHICH COULD LARGELY BE EXPLAINED BY THE INCREASED MANPOWER ON HAND WHEN CRIMES OCCURRED. BEYOND THAT, REPORTED CRIME ANALYSIS IS FRUITLESS DUE TO AN INSUFFICIENT STATISTICAL BASE. THE CITIZEN'S SURVEYS FROM BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER THE EXPANSION INDICATED THAT THE PUBLIC IS STILL VERY MUCH AFRAID OF USING THE SUBWAY SYSTEM, EVEN THOUGH 90 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS HAD NOT BEEN CRIME VICTIMS. THE RESEARCHERS ALSO POINT OUT THAT THE SENSE OF FEAR IS NOT BASED ON THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES. THEY RECOMMEND THAT THE PROGRAM OF EXPANDED POLICE SERVICE BE CONTINUED. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERN IMPROVING THE CRIME REPORTING AND RECORDING SYSTEM, MORE ACCURATELY PINPOINTING POTENTIAL CRIME TIME AND LOCATION, DETERMINING WHAT FACTORS PROVIDE CITIZENS A SENSE OF SECURITY, CREATING A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAM TO COUNTER CITIZEN FEARS AND INSECURITY, AND SHIFTING POLICE EMPHASIS FROM APPREHENSION TO SERVICE (INCLUDING RE-CONSIDERING THE EFFECT OF K-9 UNITS ON CITIZENS' APPREHENSIONS).