Testing a Crime Control Model: Does Strategic and Directed Deployment of Police Officers Lead to Lower Crime?

James P Mcelvain,Augustine J Kposowa,Brian C Gray

doi:10.1155/2013/980128

James P Mcelvain, Augustine J Kposowa + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/980128

Copy DOI

Abstract

The purpose of the paper was to investigate whether implementation of a crime control model (based, in part, on the concepts of COMPSTAT) in one southern California city was effective in reducing crime. Time series regression models were fitted to data collected from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, city of Perris, for the years 2000 through 2010. Additional data were collected from three other cities that served as controls. Results showed that the program was effective in reducing crime rates in Perris. The effect remained significant even after taking into account time trends and control cities. Analysis also found that while the program was more effective in lessening total and property crime rates, it was less so for violent crime rates. It was concluded that strategic and directed policing models (e.g., COMPSTAT, hot spot policing, etc.) may be more effective in crime reduction efforts than reactive policing methods.

Highlights

Roughout the history of law enforcement in the United States, the manner in which service has been delivered continues to be a tremendous challenge to overcome
If each generation of reform were to be viewed as a paradigm, the movement from one paradigm to another could be referred to as a “paradigm shi,” fueled by a “continued demand for safer, more effective and efficient ways to police communities” ([1], p.53). e purpose of this paper was to investigate whether the introduction of a crime-control model in one southern California city was effective in reducing crime
As may be seen in Model 2, time continued to reduce Part 1 crimes, though its effect was reduced from the previous model (Model 1). e crime control model was signi cantly associated with Part 1 crimes, indicating a difference in Part 1 crime decline by over 90.1 points a er program implementation, taking into account the impact of time. e total RR-square was moderately high (RR2 = 0.864). e stage of the analysis involved bringing in the control cities, that is, those that did not have the speci c crime intervention model used in Perris

Summary

Introduction

Roughout the history of law enforcement in the United States, the manner in which service has been delivered continues to be a tremendous challenge to overcome. Whether police departments embraced the idea of community-oriented policing or not, there was certainly a demand for a higher, more personalized, level of service by the citizens being served. Each community would receive a personalized delivery of service wherein beat officers cater to the community’s crime and quality of life problems as identi ed by the community itself. For this to occur, officers need to become intimately familiar with the community, neighborhood, business district, and/or enclave he/she patrols on a daily basis. While crime rates remained high, public fear of victimization continued, and an overall sense that the quality of life in many communities remained low, a new era in policing was developing

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion