NCJ Number
90305
Date Published
Unknown
Length
72 pages
Annotation
This report documents and evaluates the results of a jointly sponsored effort by the Fund for the City of New York and the New York City Police Department to develop a methodology for evaluating street conditions (i.e., referring to low-level street crimes, such as prostitution and gambling) in the Times Square area of New York City.
Abstract
Between July 1979 and December 1980, trained observers toured Times Square, recording the number, type, and location of crimes in order to measure patrol effectiveness and thus make better use of police resources to control low-level street offenses. The idea of 'Operation Crossroads' was that systematic and reliable ratings on street conditions, together with complaint/arrest and deployment information and precinct lore, would help the police work more effectively. With LEAA funding, the Fund was able to develop a reliable and valid measurement system, although the routine gathering of street condition data did not prompt significant deployment decisions during the project's course. The monthly report generated interest, not concrete action. However, special application of monitoring techniques during a period of intense drug enforcement in Bryant Park did help both the police and parks departments in assessing their winter efforts to clean up the park. Police agreed that using the system in evaluating special situations would be of greater value than routine monthly monitoring and reporting. The project was discontinued because police did not give it high priority. The techniques for collecting and reporting street condition information can be used by any police department. Footnotes, figures, data tables, and illustrations are provided. Definitions and sample report pages are appended. (Author summary modified)