NCJ Number
59138
Date Published
1977
Length
66 pages
Annotation
PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH 400 FLORIDA RESIDENTS TO DETERMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRIKE FORCE I, A RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
Abstract
STRIKE FORCE I WAS AN INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN DESIGNED TO EDUCATE AND MOTIVATE CITIZENS TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PREVENTION OF RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY. THE RESIDENTS WERE SELECTED RANDOMLY FROM THE TOWN AND COUNTRY DIVISIONS OF HILLSBORO COUNTY; ONE GROUP OF 200 RESIDENTS WAS INTERVIEWED BEFORE THE PROGRAM WAS IMPLEMENTED TO MEASURE THEIR EXISTING AWARENESS, 200 PEOPLE WERE INTERVIEWED AFTER THE CAMPAIGN TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. COMPARISONS OF THE TWO GROUPS SHOWED THAT STRIKE FORCE I DID INCREASE CITIZEN AWARENESS OF VARIOUS RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS THE 11 PERCENT INCREASE IN CITIZEN RECOGNITION OF THE HELP STOP CRIME PROGRAM. RESIDENTS ALSO APPEARED TO UNDERSTAND THE PROGRAM'S GOALS WITH BROCHURES, BILLBOARDS, SIGNS, AND STORE POSTERS BEING THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEDIA. RESIDENTS' AWARENESS OF BASIC HOME SECURITY MEASURES INCREASED; THEIR AWARENESS OF DEAD BOLT LOCKS, FOR EXAMPLE, INCREASED FROM 57 PERCENT TO 67 PERCENT. THE PROGRAM IMPROVED BOTH KNOWLEDGE OF BURGLARY PATTERNS AND POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARD LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIME PREVENTION. HOWEVER, STRIKE FORCE I HAD COMPARATIVELY LITTLE EFFECT ON BEHAVIOR, ALTHOUGH AN ADDITIONAL 13 PERCENT OF RESIDENTS MARKED THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY FOLLOWING THE PROGRAM. RESULTS SHOWED THAT BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IS THE MOST DIFFICULT TASK OF CRIME PREVENTION AGENCIES, BUT THAT THE STRIKE FORCE AFFECT FUTURE BEHAVIOR THROUGH ITS IMPACT ON CURRENT ATTITUDES. EXTENSIVE TABLES AND APPENDIXES SHOWING SURVEY INSTRUMENTS AND METHODOLOGY ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)