NCJ Number
178339
Date Published
1994
Length
408 pages
Annotation
The Public and Indian Housing Drug Elimination Grant Program (PHDEP) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development was analyzed with respect to its use by public housing authorities in Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Smithfield, N.C.; its impact on violent crime in public housing; and policy implications.
Abstract
The research included an extensive review of recent studies related to public housing. The analysis also focused on the role of public housing police, the role of specialized narcotics/tactical police units in public housing, and the relationship between architectural design and violent crime in public housing. It also examined the relationship of mainstream sociological theories and violent crime in public housing, and impact and importance of adequate funding for preventing violent crime in public housing, and the role of in-house security versus contract security in public housing. Results revealed that the PHDEP had an impact on violent crime in all four public housing areas. However, the grant programs of the PHDEP type were grossly restrictive. Findings also indicated the need for a variety of methodologies for studying violent crime, the appropriateness of a contractual arrangement between the local police agency and the local public housing authority in a small town, and the inadequacy of public housing authority operating budgets for addressing violent crime in public housing. Additional findings, tables, figures, footnotes, appended survey instrument and program materials, and 131 references