NCJ Number
45773
Date Published
1978
Length
13 pages
Annotation
COMMUNITY-BASED TEAM POLICING IS REPORTED AS THE REASON FOR A DECREASE IN CRIME AND AN INCREASE IN THE CRIME SOLUTION RATE IN FORT CARSON, COLORADO, OVER AN 18-MONTH PERIOD.
Abstract
FORT CARSON HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 40,000, WITH A SOLIDER POPULATION OF 20,000, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH IS CONSIDERED IN THE HIGH-CRIME-PRONE GROUP. PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TEAM POLICING, FORT CARSON WAS EXPERIENCING AN INCREASE IN CRIME, RISING HOSTILITY TOWARD THE POLICE, LONG DELAYS IN ADJUDICATING CASES, AND AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS. AFTER A THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF POLICE OPERATIONS, TEAM POLICING WAS INTRODUCED. EACH TEAM IS TAILORED TO AN ASSIGNED GEORGAPHIC AND NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT. A TEAM COMMANDER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME IN EACH AREA. TEAM MEMBERS KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA, AND FAMILIARITY AND COMMUNICATION REDUCES HOSTILITY AND FOSTERS COOPERATION IN CRIME PREVENTION. PATROL TECHNIQUES ARE DESIGNED TO HELP COMBAT SPECIFIC CRIME PROBLEMS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. TEAM MEMBERS THUS HAVE SPECIALIZED TRAINING ACCORDING TO THE AREAS ASSIGNED TO THEM. THE TEAM APPROACH IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE MAXIMUM INTERACTION AMONG TEAM MEMBERS, COMMUNITY AGENCIES, AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. AT THE END OF 18 MONTHS OF OPERATION, THE FOLLOWING RESULTS WERE SHOWN: A DECREASE OF 44 PERCENT IN CRIMES OF VIOLENCE; A DECREASE OF 39 PERCENT IN PROPERTY CRIMES; A COMBINED TOTAL DECREASE OF 1,449 CRIMES; A 65-PERCENT INCREASE IN WALK-INS AND TELEPHONE CALLS FOR SERVICE OR REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE; A 400-PERCENT INCREASE IN THE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES; NUMEROUS CONTACTS INITATED BY THE JUVENILE POPULATION IN REQUESTING POLICE ASSISTANCE; NUMEROUS POLICE RESPONSES TO A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT, WITH LITTLE OR NO POLICE AND PUBLIC CONFRONTATION; AND A 55-PERCENT INCREASE IN THE CRIME SOLUTION RATE. (RCB)