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CRIME SPECIFIC PLANNING - THE ATLANTA EXPERIENCE

NCJ Number
68986
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1980) Pages: 53-59
Author(s)
L P BROWN
Date Published
1980
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE CITY OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, EXPERIENCED A SHARP INCREASE IN ITS REPORTED CRIME RATE DURING THE FIRST TWO QUARTERS OF 1979. IN RESPONSE TO THIS, AN 'ANTI-CRIME ACTION PLAN' WAS DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED.
Abstract
ATLANTA'S PROBLEM WAS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY A SHORTAGE OF SWORN PERSONNEL AS A RESULT OF LONG-STANDING LITIGATION IN THE FEDERAL COURTS, WHICH SEVERELY HAMPERED HIRING AND PROHIBITED ALL PROMOTIONS. REPORTED CRIME IN ATLANTA INCREASED 29 PERCENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1979 AND 24 PERCENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER, SLOWED TO 8 PERCENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, AND DECREASED BY 17 PERCENT IN THE LAST QUARTER. THE ATLANTA ANTI-CRIME ACTION PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR AREA OF CRIME, ESTABLISH GOALS, AND INDICATE STRATEGIES TO BE USED IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. THE PLAN WAS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE PERIODIC UPDATING, REVISIONS, AMENDMENTS, CHANGES IN PRIORITIES OR RESOURCES, AND IN REPORTING PROGRESS. THE PLAN DEALT WITH LEGISLATION FIRST AND COVERED THEN GENERAL CRIME, WHICH WAS FURTHER DEFINED AS BOTH MAJOR AND MINOR OFFENSES. NEXT IT ADDRESSED EACH INDEX CRIME (HOMICIDE, RAPE, ROBBERY, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, BURGLARY, LARCENY, AND AUTO THEFT) AND SELECTED PART II OFFENSES THAT HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON A COMMUNITY; E.G., ARSON, PROSTITUTION, AND DRUG ABUSE. THE TREND OF A DECREASE IN REPORTED CRIME HAS CONTINUED INTO 1980. FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1980, REPORTED CRIME WAS DOWN 15 PERCENT. THIS DECREASE REPRESENTS A TREND FOR 6 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS. THE ANTI-CRIME ACTION PLAN, WHICH HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN UPDATED, IS APPENDED IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM.