NCJ Number
75088
Journal
Illinois Government Research Issue: 48 Dated: (April 1979) Pages: complete issue
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
A team policing program in Champaign, Illinois, is evaluated regarding its effects on citizens' opinions of police services, attitudes toward the police, fear of crime, clearance rates, and crime rates.
Abstract
The program has operated since May 1977 in a racially mixed, largely working-class community. Team members are responsible for providing all police services on a 24-hour basis. They are equipped with mobile radios and are encouraged to patrol on foot to facilitate contact with citizens and to become familiar with the beat and its residents. Before going into the field, officers participated in an intensive training program focusing on management, planning, goal setting and evaluation, and human relations. Training in followup investigations, selective crime enforcement, information analysis, crime prevention, and physical security was also included. The team unit held several community meetings during its early existence and conducted an active crime prevention campaign. The program evaluation utilized a control group area in which team policing was not practiced and examined data gathered before and after the start of the program. Citizens' evaluations were obtained through the use of questionnaires. The findings indicated that citizens' opinions of police services rose in the program area, and that people who traditionally felt discriminated against began to feel that they were receiving equitable treatment. In addition, an increased tendency to call the police was registered in the target area. Program area residents felt that crime had decreased and that their neighborhood was safer. Furthermore, a positive impact on clearance rates was registered, especially with regard to vandalism and assault. Five tables are provided in the article.