COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM, JULY 1, 1973, TO AUGUST 31, 1976

• NCJ Number: 54718
• Author(s): K E MATHEWS
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 22-24, 1977 PANEL 10 - CITIZEN ACTION AGAINST CRIME - EVALUATIONS

Annotation

THE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM (CCPP) IS NOTED AS AN ATTEMPT TO USE A CITIZEN-BASED ACTION APPROACH TO BURGLARY REDUCTION IN SEATTLE, WASH.

Abstract

THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS WHO HELP NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTS PLAN AND CARRY OUT BURGLARY PREVENTION AND REPORTING MEASURES COMPRISED OF THREE PRIMARY ACTIVITIES: (1) ORGANIZERS OFFER TO ENGRAVE AN IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON CERTAIN TYPES OF EASILY STOLEN PROPERTY; (2) ORGANIZERS OFFER TO CONDUCT SECURITY INSPECTIONS OF RESIDENCES, LOOKING AT COMMON POINTS OF ENTRY BY BURGLARS AND SUGGESTING VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURITY DEVICES; AND (3) A SYSTEM OF BLOCK WATCH ORGANIZATIONS IS SET UP IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD AGREE TO WATCH THEIR NEIGHBORS' RESIDENCES AND TO REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES OR PROBABLE BURGLARIES. THE BASIC HYPOTHESIS OF CCPP ACTIVITIES IS THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BLOCK WATCH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PROVISION OF HOME SECURITY INSPECTIONS AND PROPERTY MARKING WILL SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE OCCURRENCE OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. DURING THE FIRST 34.5 MONTHS OF OPERATION, CCPP SERVICES WERE AS FOLLOWS: 7,630 HOME SECURITY INSPECTIONS, 8,245 RESIDENCES WITH PROPERTY MARKED, AND 8,034 BLOCK WATCH ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, 28,962 INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CONTACTS WERE MADE. THE ESTIMATED COST PER SERVICE UNIT DURING THIS PERIOD, INCLUDING INFORMATION AND EDUCATION CONTACTS, WAS $7.14. WITH ONLY PRIMARY SERVICES CONSIDERED, THE COST PER SERVICE UNIT WAS APPROXIMATELY $18.39. IN AN EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM, DATA WERE OBTAINED ON PROGRAM MEASURES AND OUTCOMES AND THE EXTENT OF VICTIMIZATION DUE TO BURGLARY. THE FINDINGS OF EVALUATION STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT THE ASSESSMENT OF CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF OFFENSES REPORTED TO THE POLICE MAY PRODUCE MISLEADING RESULTS AND THAT CRIME DISPLACEMENT (AT LEAST FOR RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY PROGRAMS WITH RELATIVELY HIGH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT) MAY NOT BE AS SERIOUS A PROBLEM AS HAS BEEN BELIEVED. BURGLARY INCIDENTS WERE NOT PREVENTED FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT THE EXPENSE OF NEIGHBOR VICTIMIZATION. IN ACTUALITY, IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS EXPERIENCED A LARGER REDUCTION IN VICTIMIZATION RATES THAN RESIDENTS IN NONTREATED ADJACENT CENSUS TRACTS. SUPPORTING DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)