In summarizing a French case study of community policing evaluations (1997-2002), the most important police reform in France and the most thoroughly evaluated public safety policy, it can be stated that there is a shift towards “evaluation” in the implementation of public policies, including crime policies. The shift towards evaluation or sometimes impact assessment is often presented as desirable in order to render the state more efficient and more accountable to the citizens. However, it is limited to the use of the notion in a vague sense. The trend is tentative and fragile. Even though impact assessment is mentioned occasionally as a key in implementing public policies, including crime policies, it is not actually put into practice. This paper presents the French resistance to impact analysis and tries to locate the thrust towards evaluation. It analyzes the reasons why various professions tend to deny any interest in this approach. References