NCJ Number
16527
Journal
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (JUNE 1974) Pages: 16-17,36-37
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CAMERA SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM THAT HAS REDUCED CRIME IN THE TARGET AREA BY FIFTY PERCENT AND INCREASED THE ARREST RATE BY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT.
Abstract
CAMERAS LOCATED ON LIGHT POLES ONE BLOCK APART HAVE A COMBINED RANGE OF ONE MILE VISIBILITY AND CAN DETECT A PERSON ONE-QUARTER MILE AWAY IN LIGHT LEVELS TOO LOW TO BE PICKED UP BY NORMAL HUMAN VISION. A RADIO DISPATCHER AND A CLERK KEEP 24 HOUR WATCH ON TWO MONITORS WITH PROVISION FOR ZOOMING IN ON SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY AND MAKING A PERMANENT PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD. PROBLEMS HAVE INCLUDED MAINTAINING THE OPERATION OF THE OUTDOOR CAMERAS IN SEVERE WEATHER EXTREMES AND THE DISCONTINUANCE OF THE EQUIPMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER. WHILE CRIME INSIDE THE SHOPS OF THE TARGET AREA HAS NOT BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED, BURGLARS, PROSTITUTES, AND DOPE PUSHERS HAVE DECREASED THEIR ACTIVITIES. PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY HAS INCREASED THE CONVICTION RATE.