NCJ Number
83678
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This examination of LEAA's rural law enforcement program considers LEAA's expectations, alternative models of service delivery, key implementation issues, program impacts, and lessons learned.
Abstract
The program was intended to assist a limited number of rural enforcement agencies throughout the United States to better direct, coordinate, and implement a variety of rural-oriented enforcement programs, as well as provide an operational laboratory to test a number of potential enforcement models in a rural setting. Each agency was required to provide a fulltime officer for the project. While each program had unique characteristics, the following general service delivery models emerged: (1) resident trooper, which involved assigning a trooper to a particular area of a county, with no other assignment with the parent organization; (2) territorial deputy, which involved assigning a deputy to a portion of a county without being required to reside in that area; and (3) resident model, which involved the assignment of a deputy to live and work in an assigned area. The program was found to (1) reduce the fear of crime, (2) control crime, (3) increase citizen confidence in law enforcement, (4) impact youth crime, and (5) provide a base of experience for broader application of program concepts. Further, the program found that limited local law enforcement capabilities can be upgraded through the program and that technical assistance can have a positive impact on program performance. The strongest programs were those hosted by agencies with an existing nucleus of strong capability. Four notes are listed.