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REDUCING CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND (OH)

NCJ Number
57399
Journal
Victimology Volume: 3 Issue: 3/4 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (1978) Pages: 341-344
Author(s)
R J ZION
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A CONTINUING ACTION PROGRAM OF THE GREATER CLEVELAND (OHIO) GROWTH ASSOCIATION, UNDERTAKEN TO REDUCE CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND, IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE GROWTH ASSOCIATION, CLEVELAND'S LEADING PRIVATE-SECTOR DEVELOPMENT ENTITY, FOUND THAT, ALTHOUGH RELATIVELY FEW CRIMES TOOK PLACE IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, CITIZENS' PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA WERE DAMAGING THE CITY'S ECONOMY. TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, THE ASSOCIATION USED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGY: (1) IDENTIFYING KEY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE (POLICE AND BUSINESS) PERSONS WITH SPECIAL INTERESTS IN THE SECURITY OF A SMALL, CAREFULLY DEFINED TARGET AREA IN DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND; (2) ANALYZING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME IN THAT AREA; (3) WORKING WITH EXPERTS TO DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT ANTICRIME AND ANTIFEAR MEASURES; AND (4) MONITORING THE RESULTS FOR APPLICATIONS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CITY. THE PROGRAM THAT EVOLVED WAS DESIGNATED AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT BY THE OHIO DIVISION OF CRIME PREVENTION AND AWARDED A $36,944 GRANT. THE PROJECT SUCCEEDED IN PINPOINTING THE LOCATION OF CRIMES IN THE TARGET AREA BY TYPE AND TIME OF DAY, COORDINATING THE ACTIVITIES OF EIGHT EXISTING PRIVATE SECURITY FORCES, DEVELOPING UNIFORM PROSECUTION POLICIES, INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, CONDUCTING SECURITY TRAINING SEMINARS FOR STORE EMPLOYEES IN THE TARGET AREA, CONDUCTING PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS, AND SPONSORING A SERIES OF 'PARTIES IN THE PARKS' AND OTHER EVENTS DESIGNED TO BRING PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. THE SAME STRATEGY WAS USED TO ADDRESS THE CRIME/FEAR PROBLEM IN ANOTHER PART OF THE CITY, AND THERE ARE PLANS TO DEVELOP A MASTER SECURITY STRATEGY FOR THE ENTIRE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT. (LKM)