NCJ Number
55799
Date Published
1978
Length
121 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CITIZEN PATROL EXPERIMENT IN REDUCING RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES IN A KALAMAZOO, MICH., NEIGHBORHOOD IS ASSESSED.
Abstract
FROM MARCH 1977 THROUGH DECEMBER 1977, 64 VOLUNTEERS PATROLLED THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD ON CERTAIN EVENINGS OF THE WEEK AT SCHEDULED TIMES AND DISTRIBUTED CRIME PREVENTION LITERATURE TO THEIR NEIGHBORS. THE VOLUNTEERS USED NO SPECIAL EQUIPMENT AND WERE NOT ARMED. THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH BORDERS ON A LOW-INCOME AREA, IS AN OLDER SECTION OF THE CITY, DOMINATED BY LARGE HOMES THAT HAVE BEEN CONVERTED TO RENTAL HOUSING FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. THE PATROL PROJECT REDUCED THE FREQUENCY OF RESIDENTIAL BREAKING AND ENTERING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD BY 26 PERCENT OVER A 10-MONTH PERIOD. THE PROJECT OPERATED WITHOUT ANY INJURY TO PARTICIPANTS, WITH A MINIMUM OF FUNDS, WITHOUT ANY INSTANCES OF VIGILANTISM, AND WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF RELIABILITY ON THE PART OF VOLUNTEERS. THE PROJECT ALSO SUCCEEDED IN IMPROVING THE SECURITY-RELATED HABITS OF RESIDENTS (USING POLICE PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION ENGRAVERS, TURNING ON PORCH LIGHTS, CONDUCTING HOME SECURITY INSPECTIONS, ETC.). DETAILS OF THESE AND OTHER FINDINGS OF THE EXPERIMENT ARE RECORDED, TOGETHER WITH THE METHODS USED TO IMPLEMENT, OPERATE, AND EVALUATE THE PROJECT. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE MEASURES TAKEN TO ESTABLISH THAT THE OBSERVED DECREASE IN BURGLARIES WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE PATROL PROJECT. ALSO NOTED ARE FINDINGS PERTAINING TO AN UNEXPECTED INTERVENTION IN THE EXPERIMENT--THE PRESENCE OF A CAREER BURGLAR--AND TO THE WILLINGNESS OF POLICE TO COOPERATE WITH THE PROJECT. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.