WORCESTER (MA) - CRIME IMPACT PROGRAM - AN EVALUATION REPORT

• NCJ Number: 35262
• Author(s): J M TIEN; R C LARSON; J B GREEN; J C WILLIAMSON; V K DUNLAP; J W SIMON
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 350 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Massachusetts Cmtte on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Public Systems Evaluation, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF THE SECOND YEAR OF A PROJECT TO ACHIEVE SHORT TERM REDUCTIONS IN THE INCIDENCE OF ROBBERY AND BURGLARY IN WORCESTER (MA) ON A CITYWIDE BASIS WITH EMPHASIS ON A SPECIFIED TARGET AREA.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM CONSISTED OF SEVEN COMPONENTS AIMED AT ACHIEVING GOALS OF CIVILIANIZATION, DECENTRALIZATION, AND SPECIALIZATION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THROUGH CONCENTRATED PATROL, INCREASED INVESTIGATIVE MANPOWER, IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, USE OF CIVILIANS TO ANSWER SERVICE CALLS, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A CRIME PREVENTION UNIT. ALL AVAILABLE DATA ELEMENTS TRADITIONALLY COLLECTED BY THE WORCESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEVANT TO THE PROJECT AND ESPECIALLY THOSE DEMONSTRATING THE IMPACT OF THE USE OF POLICE SERVICE AIDES WERE ANALYZED AS WERE THE RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTERED TO AND INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED AMONG PARTICIPANTS AND TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH SERVICE CALL CLIENTS. FINDINGS INCLUDE THAT THE WORCESTER CRIME IMPACT PROGRAM HAS SUCCESSFULLY MET ITS MAIN OUTPUT GOAL OF REDUCED TARGET CRIMES PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN MANPOWER AND BECAUSE OF THE FLEXIBILITY AND ORGANIZATION PROVIDED BY THE IMPACT PROGRAM.