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Evaluating Problem-Oriented Policing: A Quasi-Experiment

NCJ Number
174506
Journal
Policing Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: 1998 Pages: 449-464
Author(s)
P Jesilow; J Meyer; D Parsons; W Tegeler
Date Published
1998
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article evaluates the effectiveness of one community policing program.
Abstract
Interviews with samples of Santa Ana, CA residents before and after implementation of a problem-oriented policing (POP) program in one of the cityþs policing districts indicated that the policy may reduce citizensþ complaints about their neighborhoods. Complaints about gang activities decreased from 29 to 13 percent of district residents Complaints about property crimes decreased among the developmental district sample members from 25 to 9 percent; drugs and prostitution fell from 8 to 2 percent, and criticisms of speeders and other traffic violators disappeared completely. Overall, police-related complaints declined in the experimental district, while reporting of such criticisms grew in the rest of the city. Cautionary comments about this and other POP efforts include: (1) citizens interviewed may not be representative of all neighborhood residents; (2) the laws which are selected for enforcement are those which the community power structure wants enforced; and (3) POP programs rely on local standards of conduct and acceptable levels of enforcement, which are totally subjective observations. Tables, notes, references