Sweeping Out Drugs and Crime: Residents' Views of the Chicago Housing Authority's Public Housing Drug Elimination Program

• NCJ Number: 152510
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1995) Pages: 73-99
• Author(s): S J Popkin; L M Olson; A J Lurigio; V E Gwiasda; R G Carter
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 27 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Chicago Housing Authority
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A survey shows public-housing residents' views of the Chicago Housing Authority's Public Housing Drug Elimination Program (PHDEP).

Abstract

Crime and disorder have been prevalent in public housing developments since the 1960's. Various attempts, ranging from physical design modifications to intensive law enforcement strategies, have been made to combat these problems. The PHDEP, an extensive anticrime initiative, involves sweeping buildings for drugs and weapons, improving security, removing unauthorized tenants, responding to residents' needs for services and maintenance, and implementing drug prevention and intervention programs. This study surveyed respondents' perceptions of PHDEP's effects on drugs and crime in two housing developments chosen for their pre-existing differences in crime rates and population stability. Tenants in both developments were asked about their perceptions of crime and safety in their buildings before and after PHDEP sweeps. In addition, they were asked whether specific components of PHDEP were implemented, such as apartment repairs, tenant patrols, and other housing authority social services, and whether they believed their buildings should be swept again. Respondents also provided demographic information such as gender, age, years living in public housing, years in their specific building, and number of children. Residents in both authorities believed that the PHDEP had an overall positive impact on crime and disorder. Most notably, residents in both developments believed that the sweeps had substantially reduced shooting and fighting in their buildings, making their daily lives safer. As an indication of support for the program, about half of the residents in both developments were interested in having their buildings swept again; however, residents in the better- organized development were more positive about the program than were the residents in the other development. 2 tables, 3 notes, and 48 references