NCJ Number
79340
Date Published
1981
Length
146 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an evaluation of the Salt Lake City Anti-Crime Program, a comprehensive community crime prevention program.
Abstract
This final evaluation report covers the operations of the project from January 1, 1979 to April 30, 1981. The report's format presents each program objective specified in the grant, followed by descriptions of strategies used to achieve objectives and evaluation findings regarding the degree to which each strategy was achieved. Evaluation data were obtained through records reviews, face-to-face interviews with agency heads and other key persons, telephone surveys, and personal observation of printed materials developed and disseminated by the project. Findings show that overall the program met or exceeded the grant objectives. The anticrime team and police crime prevention unit organized a comprehensive citizens' crime watch program that involved over 25,000 Salt Lake City residents. A total of 500 low income persons and senior citizens were able to purchase dead bolt locks at reduced rates or receive free locks through the program. Local television, radio, and newspapers contributed many hours and pages to crime prevention features. Whether these efforts increased public awareness of crime prevention was not determined. Women all over the State received self-protection training and rape followup treatment through the rape crisis center. Juvenile offenders with recidivism rates were brought to below a 40 percent recidivism rate through the efforts of Project Youth Pride, a program that helped juvenile offenders to improve their skills academically and vocationally. Recommendations include (1) the development of a comprehensive plan for data collection, (2) the development of clear lines of authority for program coordination, (3) the placing of widely divergent programs under separate grants to facilitate monitoring, and (4) the earmarking of more funds for advertising. Tabular data and project materials are provided. (Author summary modified)