NCJ Number
70385
Date Published
1974
Length
151 pages
Annotation
An evaluation for 1973 to 1974 of Salt Lake City, Utah, Police Strategic Patrol and Coordination Effort (SPACE) shows mixed results but public favor.
Abstract
The objective of SPACE is to reduce crime through reducing police response time, increasing suspect apprehension and conviction rates, increasing citizens' involvement, and removing crime opportunity. The measurement of the overall objective is accomplished by collecting data on reported crime each month and comparing monthly figures before and after SPACE. A victimization study in the SPACE area was used to estimate unreported crime. The impact of SPACE varies. While one patrol area reports no increases and possible decreases in reported crime, another area reports possible increases, especially in burglary. Moreover, residents in the first area are less likely to believe crime is increasing than residents of the second area. Surveys also show that a large majority of citizens have a good opinion of police services in the SPACE districts. Although those residents under 30 years of age were the most dissatisfied, other socioeconomic variables had no correlation with opinions. Several crime categories reflect substantial numbers of unreported crimes, probably because victims thought the incidents were too unimportant for police involvement. Finally, response times for SPACE patrols were substantially lower than those for other patrols. Recommendations for SPACE, tabular information, appendixes, and brief progress reports on four other Utah crime prevention programs involving prosecutors, technical services, and communications are included.