NCJ Number
106671
Date Published
1985
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study, conducted from the fall of 1983 through the summer of 1984, field tested the hypothesis that the location of a police community station in a neighborhood could reduce fear of crime and increase citizens' satisfaction with their neighborhood and with the police.
Abstract
Station officers developed programs that included monthly neighborhood meetings, a ride-along program, and cooperation with school officials to address school problems. Two matched neighborhoods, one with a community station and one without any new police program, were compared on common measures of citizens' attitudes and neighborhood characteristics. Area-level effects were examined by analyzing surveys of random cross-sectional samples of residents and owners or managers of commercial establishments before and after the program period. Individual-level effects were analyzed by comparing surveys with the same persons. Data for both survey waves were pooled, merged, and subjected to a pooled cross-sectional regression analysis. Residents in the experimental neighborhood had significantly lower scores on fear of personal victimization in the neighborhood, perceived crime problems in the area (personal and property), perceived social disorder, and defensive behaviors to avoid victimization. The community station program apparently reduced citizens' fear of crime. 3 tables and 5 references.