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CRIME AND THE POLICE

NCJ Number
16197
Journal
Criminology Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 195-213
Author(s)
C R WELLFORD
Date Published
1974
Length
19 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF CHANGING LEVELS OF CRIME (BOTH AGGREGATE AND INDEX OFFENSE-SPECIFIC) AND CHANGES IN SOCIAL-DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND POLICE EFFORT CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE 1960'S.
Abstract
IN AN EFFORT TO ASSESS THE CORRELATES OF THE VARIATIONS IN THE RATE OF CRIME AGGREGATED AT A CITY LEVEL, DATA ARE ANALYZED USING MULTIPLE CORRELATION ANALYSIS THAT INCLUDES INDICATORS OF SOCIOECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTROL (POLICE) CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CITIES. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE RATE OF POLICE AND MONEY BUDGETED TO POLICE CONTRIBUTES LITTLE TO THE EXPLAINED VARIATION IN RATES OF CRIME. IN ADDITION, THESE INDICATORS OF SOCIAL CONTROL VARIATIONS DO NOT CORRELATE WITH VARIATIONS IN CLEARANCE RATES. THE DATA ARE INTERPRETED IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC POLICY, EVALUATION OF POLICE, AND DETERRENCE THEORY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)