NCJ Number
210353
Date Published
August 2004
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This final report describes a problem-oriented policing project undertaken by the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) on the problem of street prostitution in the city.
Abstract
The project, supported by funding from the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), was designed to apply the information from selected Problem-Oriented Guides for Police (POP Guide) to actual crime and disorder problems, in this case, the problem of street prostitution in one area near the central business district of Raleigh, NC. The project topic was selected through a survey of RPD employees and a corresponding POP Guide was distributed to project members. Police analyzed data on the problem, including historic arrest data in the area, focus groups with local police, and a citizen survey. The findings revealed that over the past 10 years, a group of approximately 60 chronic offenders accounted for most of the prostitution, drug, and minor offense arrests in the target area. The response was a two-pronged approach focusing on detecting and discouraging male consumers and on assisting female prostitutes in leaving the business. At the time of project evaluation, the response had not been fully implemented yet police were making progress in their efforts and were developing a means to measure their impact. Overall, the project had an impact on RPD officers, teaching them the principles of problem-oriented policing. Appendixes