NCJ Number
29908
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 11 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1975) Pages: 30,32-34
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATION OF THE SAN JOSE POLICE DEPARTMENT (SJPD) BURGLARY METHODOLOGY PROJECT, AN EXAMPLE OF THE 'FOCUSED APPROACH' TO CRIME REDUCTION.
Abstract
THIS PROJECT INVOLVED A FOUR-POINT APPROACH TO BURGLARY REDUCTION; FOCUS (DIAGNOSIS OF THE PROBLEM); ACTION (THE DETERMINATION OF ACTION ON THE BASIS OF DATA); EVALUATION (EVALUATING PROJECT ACTIONS BY LOOKING AT SPECIFIC TARGET AREAS AND MEASURING THE RESULTS); AND REFOCUS (READJUSTING CRIME CONTROL TECHNIQUES TO INSURE GREATER LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESS). THE SPECIFIC OPERATION OF THE SJPD BURGLARY METHODOLOGY PROJECT USING THIS FOCUSED APPROACH IS DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. THIS PROJECT FOCUSED ON BURGLARY PREVENTION AND THE RETURN OF PROPERTY IN A FIFTEEN-SQUARE MILE AREA (ELEVEN PER CENT OF THE CITY'S LAND) WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF WHICH NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF THE BURGLARIES OF SAN JOSE WERE COMMITTED. POLICE-PUBLIC RELATIONS EFFORTS WERE EXPENDED IN 'TARGET HARDENING' THESE AREAS THROUGH INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INVOLVEMENT, PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS, AND OPERATION FENCE, A PROGRAM TO IDENTIFY AND CLOSE CHANNELS THROUGH WHICH STOLEN GOODS ARE CONVERTED INTO CASH OR OTHER NEGOTIABLE ITEMS.