NCJ Number
225368
Date Published
January 2009
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This issue draws implications for crime and policing in a bad economy, the importance of cultural sensitivity in providing police services to the Asian-American community, the emerging trend of copper theft, and the implications of the “broken windows” theory for community policing.
Abstract
One of the papers in this issue advises that law enforcement agencies must develop strategies for counteracting increases in crime related to the housing and foreclosure crisis. Associated crimes include mortgage fraud and crimes occasioned by the large number of vacant homes. The latter circumstance makes such houses targets for such crimes as property theft, graffiti, and drug activity. Incidents of domestic violence should also be expected to increase under the stress of family financial difficulties. Another paper notes the importance of being attentive to differences in communication styles across cultures when developing public education campaigns that include Asian-Americans in the target population. Examples are presented of strategies that represent culturally sensitive designs for the Asian-American community, so law enforcement agencies can improve educational messages to this population. A third paper provides an explanation for the trend toward thefts of copper from critical infrastructure, such as electrical substations, railroads, and security and emergency services. This trend is due to the significant increase in the price for copper because of the demand from developing nations such as China and India. Some proposed strategies for addressing this problem are outlined. Another paper in this issue discusses the problems that can arise when the “broken windows” theory is applied in a way that involves massive police interventions to make arrests for minor public order offenses. Changing a community and its visible characteristics requires working with community leaders in developing a strategy that strengthens police-community cooperation.