NCJ Number
54902
Date Published
1979
Length
15 pages
Annotation
USING DATA FROM APPROXIMATELY 17,000 INCIDENT REPORTS, THE IMPACT OF FRANKLIN, WISCONSIN'S CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT IS EVALUATED.
Abstract
THE CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT CONDUCTS THREE ACTIVITIES IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE TARGETED CRIME. THE ACTIVITIES ARE: (1) SECURITY SURVEYS, (2) OPERATION IDENTIFICATION, AND (3) NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM. SECURITY SURVEYS FOCUSSED ON THE ELDERLY CITIZENS AND AIMED AT DEVELOPING CREATIVE, LOW-COST SUGGESTIONS FOR HOME SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS. THE PURPOSE OF OPERATION IDENTIFICATION WAS TO DETER CRIMINALS FROM TAKING ITEMS DURING A BURGLARY TO FACILITATE THE RETURN OF STOLEN GOODS TO THE OWNERS, AND TO MAKE THE FENCING OF STOLEN PROPERTY MORE DIFFICULT. THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO INVOLVE CITIZENS IN CRIME PREVENTION. LECTURES AND SLIDE PRESENTATIONS WERE GIVEN IN ORDER TO STIMULATE CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT. AS A RESULT OF THIS EVALUATION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM WAS SINGLED OUT FOR INCREASED EMPHASIS. AN ANALYSIS OF THE DATA REVEALED THAT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT FORM IS NEEDED. BECAUSE THE PLANNING PHASE OF THIS PROJECT WAS NOT COMPLETED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 1978, COMPARISONS BETWEEN PREPROJECT AND PROJECT DATA COULD ONLY BE MADE FOR A 3-MONTH PERIOD. THESE DATA SHOW AN INCREASE FOR 1978 IN THE NUMBER OF BURGLARIES AND THEFTS. HOWEVER, THIS INCREASE MAY BE DUE TO A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS OF CRIME. AS A RESULT OF THIS STUDY, THE FOLLOWING OBJECTS WERE DEFINED FOR THE CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT: (1) REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF BURGLARY AND THEFT, (2) INCREASE THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY, AND (3) INCREASE THE CLEARANCE OF TARGETED CRIMES. TABLES AND FIGURES ARE INCLUDED. (MLC)