SAINT LOUIS (MO) HIGH IMPACT CRIME DISPLACEMENT STUDY

• NCJ Number: 53779
• Author(s): W W STENZEL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977 - PANEL 27 EVALUATING COMPLEX PROGRAMS - CROSS-SYSTEMS APPROACHES

Annotation

THIS PAPER SUMMARIZES THE FINDINGS OF AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GEOGRAPHIC CRIME DISPLACEMENT AND THE ST. LOUIS HIGH IMPACT ANTI-CRIME PROGRAM.

Abstract

IN 1972, THE ST. LOUIS HIGH IMPACT ANTI-CRIME PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN AN ATTEMPT TO REDUCE BURGLARY AND STRANGER-TO-STRANGER OFFENSES (INCLUDING MURDER, RAPE, ROBBERY, AND AGGRAVATED ASSAULT). TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT AND NATURE OF CRIMINAL MOBILITY, THE MISSOURI LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE COUNCIL, REGION 5, MADE A STUDY OF CRIME AND RESIDENCY PATTERNS IN BOTH ST. LOUIS AND THE 93 MUNICIPALITIES AND UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY. RESIDENCY OF THE CRIMINALS WAS USED AS A MEASURE OF MOBILITY. THE CRIME AND ARREST DATA FOR 1972-73 WAS COMPARED WITH CRIME AND ARREST DATA FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAM BUT ALSO, FOR CONTROL PURPOSES, WITH A PROJECTION OF TRENDS FOR THE YEARS BEFORE THE PROGRAM. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WERE TO ASSESS THE REACTION OF CRIMINALS IN ST. LOUIS TO THE ANTICRIME PROGRAM ITSELF, TO DETERMINE CRIME-TREND CHANGES IN THE ENTIRE AREA FOLLOWING INITIATION OF THE ANTICRIME PROGRAM, AND TO DETERMINE CHANGES IN MOBILITY. ANALYSIS OF THE FINDINGS YIELDED THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS: (1) NO PERMANENT GEOGRAPHIC CRIME DISPLACEMENT FROM ST. LOUIS CITY INTO THE ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES WAS CAUSED BY THE ANTICRIME PROGRAM; (2) NO PERMANENT GEOGRAPHIC CRIME DISPLACEMENT FROM THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS INTO ST. LOUIS COUNTY WAS CAUSED BY THE IMPACT PROGRAM; (3) A SUBSTANTIAL LEVEL OF 'ATTRACTIVE' CRIME DISPLACEMENT (WHEN A CHANGE ATTRACTS CRIMINALS) OCCURRED IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY FOLLOWING THE INITIATION OF THE PROGRAM; (4) A TEMPORARY PERIOD OF BURGLARY DISPLACEMENT TO ST. LOUIS AND ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES MAY HAVE OCCURRED IN LATE 1972 AND EARLY 1973; AND (5) A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF ALL INDEX CRIMES IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND ADJACENT MUNICIPALITIES ARE COMMITTED BY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. MAPS, TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. A COMPLETE FORM OF THIS ABRIDGED DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY IS CONTAINED IN THE FINAL REPORT 'SAINT LOUIS HIGH IMPACT CRIME DISPLACEMENT STUDY', AVAILABLE FROM THE REGION 5 COUNCIL OR THE INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC PROGRAM ANALYSIS.