NCJ Number
234159
Date Published
2007
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This report presents a review of research examining the effects of focused police crime prevention interventions in high-activity crime spots.
Abstract
Results from the review of the research literature support the theory that police efforts focused on high-activity crime spots can be an effective technique for preventing crime; of the nine studies selected for evaluation, seven reported significant crime and disorder reductions. The review also examined studies that measured crime displacement due to focused police interventions, and found that focusing police efforts on high-activity crime areas did not lead to crime displacement and that crime control benefits spread to areas immediately surrounding the targeted area. This review did not evaluate which enforcement strategies were most effective at reducing crime and disorder in high-activity crime spots, nor did it examine studies that evaluated the communities' reaction to focused police crime prevention interventions. This review examined existing published and non-published research on the effects of focused police crime prevention interventions at high-activity crime spots in order to provide a systematic assessment of preventative value of these intervention programs. Criteria for including a study in the review included types of studies, types of areas, types of interventions, and types of outcome measures. Suggestions for future research are discussed. References