NCJ Number
66311
Date Published
1979
Length
0 pages
Annotation
TECHNIQUES, PROBLEMS, AND DANGERS OF POLICE DECOY WORK AND THE EFFECTS OF SUCH WORK ON REDUCING CRIME AND THE FEAR OF CRIME ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS FILM ON THE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT STREET CRIME UNIT (SCU).
Abstract
DISGUISED AS AN ELDERLY WOMAN, A POLICE OFFICER HOBBLES ALONG THE NEW YORK STREETS SHOPPING FOR FRUIT, DEPICTING ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST SUCCESSFUL POLICE DECOY PROGRAMS. SUCCESSIVE ACTION AND INTERVIEW SCENES ARE USED TO DESCRIBE THE SCU PROGRAM THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALMOST 25 PERCENT OF ALL FELONY ARRESTS AND HAS A 90-PERCENT CONVICTION RATE. DRAMATIZED STREET SCENES DEMONSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING AND TIMING IN MAKING QUALITY ARRESTS AND IN AVOIDING CHARGES OF ENTRAPMENT. ONE DECOY UNIT IS FOLLOWED TO SHOW HOW TO SET UP AND EFFECTIVELY USE SUCH A PROGRAM TO DETER ROBBERIES, MUGGINGS, ASSAULTS, AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES THAT OFTEN OCCUR ON CITY STREETS. INTERVIEWS WITH UNIT OFFICERS DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKEUP, ACTING, TEAMWORK, AND FLEXIBILITY; TESTIMONY BY OLDER CITIZENS IS GIVEN ON THE PROGRAM'S EFFECTIVENESS. THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON LOWERING CRIME COSTS IS ALSO EMPHASIZED. TWO CLEARED-FOR-TELEVISION COMMERCIALS ACCOMPANY THE FILM. (AOP)