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Innovative Policing in Houston

NCJ Number
109700
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 494 Dated: (November 1987) Pages: 129-134
Author(s)
L P Brown
Date Published
1987
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The Houston Police Department (Texas) has refined the reactive role of police to become more responsive to citizens and to use community resources in efforts to deal with crime.
Abstract
The four main values underlying the department's efforts are the view that crime is a community problem and not solely a police problem, the need to set priorities, the need to improve police services in a way that advances democratic principles, and the need to deliver police services in a way that reinforces the concept of neighborhoods. To reflect these values, police beats have been redesigned to reflect natural boundaries. In addition, officers have been assigned to specific neighborhoods on a permanent basis. Through the Directed Area Responsibility Team Program, officers learn as much as they can about their neighborhoods and meet with community leaders. A complementary innovation, Project Oasis, assumes that, in a bad neighborhood, residents are good people who must take responsibility for local improvement, building on supportive services from government. In all these efforts, the police work with the community in addressing the issues that affect the quality of life. (Author abstract modified)