Evaluation of the City of Lauderhill Community Model Crime Reduction and Drug Abuse Prevention Initiative

• NCJ Number: 165143
• Author(s): C A McNeece; N D O'Quinn
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); Florida Dept of Community Affairs
• Corporate Author: Florida State University
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Florida Dept of Community Affairs
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC.

Annotation

This report presents evaluation findings for a community- based drug prevention program in Lauderhill, Fla.

Abstract

The primary goal of the project, titled Community Model Crime Reduction and Drug Abuse Prevention, was to reduce significantly the drug-related crime rate in the target neighborhoods and adjacent residential areas. Secondary goals were to sustain an intensive level of citizen involvement in the target neighborhoods; to demonstrate an enhanced level of citizen pride in the target neighborhoods; and to show improved channels of communication between citizens, law enforcement, and the city government within target neighborhoods. Project goals were to be achieved by establishing at least one representative outpost office in the target neighborhood and developing program outreach sites staffed by citizen volunteers; establishing an ongoing series of brainstorming sessions with local church and civic leaders in each target neighborhood concerning strategies for activating the community in crime reduction and drug abuse prevention efforts; and disseminating information about the scope of the drug problem in the target neighborhood by publishing and distributing program update newsletters. In addition to the project description, the information provided addresses reported offenses and arrests, project management, and site visits. The evaluators decided not to use crime and arrest data as measures of program impact due to the many factors in Lauderhill that are influencing these measures. Apparently the program has resulted in a greater degree of interdepartmental and interagency contact and cooperation. It is too early to tell whether this will result in any permanent improvement in relationships between law enforcement and other agencies. Almost everyone interviewed during the evaluation regarded the most difficult task to be changing the mindset of police officers from that of "hero" and "adventurer" to that of "organizer," "peacemaker," and "social worker." 2 tables