NCJ Number
160736
Date Published
1995
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Because most police calls for service come from especially dangerous locations known as "hot spots," community problem- solving techniques may substantially reduce crime and disorder if risks at these locations are stable; if locations run high risks only temporarily or sporadically, location-based strategies may not work.
Abstract
In order to look at criminal careers of public places, data were obtained on calls for police service in Boston between January 1977 and December 1980. An analysis of calls at 35 high schools, 35 housing projects, 53 subway stations, and 135 parks and playgrounds showed that risks remained fairly constant over time and that most apparent changes could be attributed to random processes. Autoregression and displacement in space and call type were statistically significant but unimportant indicators of call rates. Among public places, the worst 10 percent of locations reliably accounted for about 30 percent of all calls. In addition to verifying the effectiveness of community problem-solving strategies, the results have practical implications for focusing on unique characteristics of locations that create opportunities for crime and disorder. 30 references, 4 notes, 5 tables, and 5 figures