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SECOND YEAR EVALUATION OF THE SAN JOSE ROBBERY PREVENTION PROGRAM

NCJ Number
45241
Author(s)
B GREENBERG; E F FENNESSY
Date Published
1977
Length
105 pages
Annotation
THE IMPLEMENTATION AND INDEPENDENT EVALUATION OF A PROJECT AIMED AT IMPROVING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IN DEALING WITH ARMED ROBBERY OF COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN SAN JOSE, CALIF., ARE DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
SAN JOSE'S ROBBERY PREVENTION PROJECT CONSISTS OF A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA PROGRAM AND A SECRET WITNESS PROGRAM. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INSTALLS SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN SELECTED STORES AND OFFERS REWARDS TO PERSONS WHO RESPONDED ANONYMOUSLY TO NEWSPAPER REQUESTS FOR WITNESS INFORMATION ON ROBBERIES. THE EVALUATION RELIES PRIMARILY ON QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROJECT RESULTS BUT ALSO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY WITH REGARD TO THE PROJECT'S EFFECTIVENESS. MAJOR EVALUATION FINDINGS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) DURING 19 MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE PROJECT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE SUCCESSFUL CLEARANCE OF 150 ARMED ROBBERIES; (2) THE PROJECT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN 41 PERCENT OF ALL ARMED ROBBERY CLEARANCES IN THE FIRST YEAR AND IN 28 PERCENT OF ALL SUCH CLEARANCES IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF THE SECOND YEAR; (3) THE PROJECT PRODUCED A 69 PERCENT INCREASE IN ARMED ROBBERY CLEARANCES IN THE FIRST YEAR AND A 56 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF THE SECOND YEAR; (4) THE PROJECT MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO A NET REDUCTION OF 87 PERCENT IN COMPLAINT REJECTIONS FOR ARMED ROBBERY; (5) THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN GUILTY PLEAS FOR ARMED ROBBERY CASES IN COMPARISON TO THE BASELINE PERIOD; AND (6) ARMED ROBBERY ARRESTS INCREASED BY 84 PERCENT OVER THE BASELINE DURING THE PROJECT'S FIRST YEAR AND BY 61 PERCENT DURING THE FIRST 7 MONTHS OF THE SECOND YEAR. THE CONSENSUS AMONG KEY OFFICIALS IN SAN JOSE'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IS THAT THE ROBBERY PREVENTION PROJECT HAS BEEN WELL MANAGED, INNOVATIVE, AND EFFECTIVE. DETAILS OF EVALUATION METHODOLOGY AND FINDINGS, A DISCUSSION OF POLICY IMPLICATIONS, PLANS FOR THE PROJECT'S THIRD YEAR, AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.