Gang Suppression Through Saturation Patrol, Aggressive Curfew, and Truancy Enforcement: A Quasi-experimental Test of the Dallas Anti-gang Initiative

• NCJ Number: 176213
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 45 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1999 Pages: 122-139
• Author(s): E J Fritsch; T J Caeti; R W Taylor
• Date Published: 1999
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A quasi-experimental research design was used to analyze the impact of an anti-gang initiative that was begun by the Dallas Police Department in 1996 and that involved the use of overtime-funded police officers to implement saturation patrol and active curfew and truancy enforcement.

Abstract

The initiative targeted five defined areas that were home to seven of the city's most violent gangs. The research examined control areas and analyzed pre-intervention and post-intervention measures of gang violence and offenses reported to the police. Results indicated that aggressive curfew and truancy enforcement led to significant reductions in gang violence, whereas simple saturation patrol did not. In addition, no significant reductions occurred in offenses reported to the police. Findings suggested that police should focus on developing effective strategies to address the crime problems that gangs create and should coordinate with other public agencies in dealing with gangs. Tables, notes, and 48 references (Author abstract modified)