NCJ Number
19281
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1974) Pages: 207-217
Date Published
1974
Length
11 pages
Annotation
DIRECT DETERRENCE, THE PREVENTION OF CRIMINAL ACTS BY BLOCKING POTENTIAL CRIMINAL OPPORTUNITIES, IS PROPOSED FOR USE IN THE ANALYSIS OF CRIME CONTROL STRATEGIES.
Abstract
TWO MATHEMATICAL MODELS OF POLICE PATROL AND THEIR UTILITY TO THE ANALYSIS OF POLICE DIRECT DETERRENCE ARE DISCUSSED. THESE MODELS EXAMINE THE RISK-OF-APPREHENSION ASPECT OF DETERENCE BY ESTIMATING INTERCEPT PROBABILITIES OR TIME-SPACE COINCIDENCES. AN ANALYSIS IS PERFORMED THAT DEVELOPS, FIRST, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USE OF A CRIME PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY AND THE AMOUNT OF DIRECT DETERRENCE PROVIDED AND, SECOND, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND THE APPLICATION OF DIRECT DETERRENCE. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE APPLICATION OF A DIRECT DETERRENCE STRATEGY IS EFFECTIVE ONLY WHEN THE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE OR OPPORTUNITY BLOCKING IS SUFFICIENTLY HIGH TO CAUSE ACTIVE COMPETITION BETWEEN THE DEMAND FOR CRIME OPPORTUNITIES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE OR UNBLOCKED. HE ADDS THAT, IN THIS RESPECT, POLICE PATROL AT THE LEVELS MOST DEPARTMENTS OPERATE POSES VERY LITTLE DIRECT DETERRENCE AND THAT THE INCREASE IN DIRECT DETERRENCE CAUSED BY DOUBLING THE PATROL FORCE MIGHT BE INSIGNIFICANT. ALTERNATIVE SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE POLICE SATURATION COVERAGE JUST IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS OR AT CERTAIN TIMES AND USE OF CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS IN AN AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)