NCJ Number
153459
Date Published
1994
Length
35 pages
Annotation
The criminal justice impact of riverboat gambling in Joliet, Ill. was studied, using police statistics on crimes and calls for service, anecdotal interviews with police and city officials, and interviews with representatives of two riverboats located in the city.
Abstract
The Joliet statistics covered the 1988-93 period. The research staff also visited three other Illinois cities with riverboats. Results revealed that city officials view riverboat enterprises very positively, primarily due to the economic benefits, and by law enforcement administrators, based on their direct experience with boat security staff. Law enforcement officials tend to have effective collaborative relationships with riverboat security staff, with smooth transition of cases from on board the boats to local criminal justice authorities. Although calls for service, specific crimes, or both increased slightly in selected beats near the riverboats in Joliet, the overall patterns of service calls and crime in the city remained stable or even declined after the riverboats began service. Findings indicate that riverboat casino enterprises provide a highly controlled and secure setting for legalized gambling and that the presence of riverboats in a city does not appear to substantially increase overall crime or calls for service. Figures and appended map and methodological information