NCJ Number
55163
Date Published
1979
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS ON THE IMPACT OF THE WISCONSIN RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S SPECIALIZED CRIME PREVENTION UNIT IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE WISCONSIN RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED FIRST-YEAR FUNDS OF $46,000 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SPECIALIZED CRIME PREVENTION UNIT. AS A RESULT OF A CRIME ANALYSIS, BURGLARY REDUCTION WAS DEFINED AS THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT. FIRST-YEAR CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES WERE CONCENTRATED ON TWO DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CITY. TWO ADDITIONAL DISTRICTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR CONCENTRATION DURING THE SECOND YEAR. ALTHOUGH ONLY SPECIFIC PORTIONS OF THE CITY ARE BEING TARGETED, ADVERTISEMENT OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN CITYWIDE. FURTHERMORE, PERSONS RESIDING OUTSIDE OF THE SELECTED AREAS MAY RECEIVE CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES. HENCE, THE UNIT MAY BE EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME CITYWIDE IMPACT. ALL RESIDENTS IN THE TARGETED AREAS WILL BE CONTACTED SO THAT CRIME PREVENTION SERVICES MAY BE EXPLAINED. PRIMARY EMPHASIS IS ON HOME SECURITY SURVEYS AND OPERATION IDENTIFICATION. IN ORDER TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES ON BURGLARY, INFORMATION ON 1977 OFFENSES WERE COLLECTED FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE THROUGH NOVEMBER. COMPARATIVE DATA ON 1978 BURGLARIES WERE COLLECTED FOR THE SAME MONTHS. PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALED A DECREASE IN THE PRECENTAGE OF BURGLARIES CLEARED BY ARREST. HOWEVER, THE INCIDENCE OF BURGLARY HAS DECREASED AS HAS THE AVERAGE DOLLAR LOSS PER BURGLARY. WHILE IT IS TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY DEFINITIVE STATEMENTS ABOUT THE PROJECT, THE DATA SUGGEST THAT THE PROJECT MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON CRIME. TABLES AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)