NCJ Number
43538
Date Published
1975
Length
95 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OF THE HENRICO CO. HIGH INCIDENCE TARGET (HIT) PROJECT, WHICH CONCENTRATES LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCES, SHOWING A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN SPECIFIC TARGET CRIMES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THIS EVALUATION ASSESSES THE PROJECT'S FIRST 7 MONTHS OF OPERATION. THE HENRICO COUNTY PROJECT IS PART OF THE OVERALL HIT PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THE VIRGINIA DIVISION OF JUSTICE AND CRIME PREVENTION. THIS STATEWIDE PROGRAM WAS DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED IN TWO PHASES. THE HENRICO COUNTY PROJECT IS PART OF HIT PHASE II, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED FOR THOSE VIRGINIA CITIES AND COUNTIES WITH POPULATIONS OF 50,000 TO 200,000, AS OPPOSED TO HIT PHASE I, WHICH WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE THREE MOST POPULOUS METROPOLITAN LOCATIONS IN THE COMMONWEALTH. THE REPORT DESCRIBES THE HENRICO COUNTY HIT PROJECT, THE METHODOLOGY USED TO EVALUATE THE PROJECT, AND PRESENTS EVALUATION FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING TACTICAL ELEMENTS/PROJECT EQUIPMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION ELEMENTS, AND PLANNING AND SUPPORT ELEMENTS. ALSO INCLUDED ARE SURVEY RESULTS OF SPECIAL ACTION FORCE PERSONNEL. THE PROJECT WAS TERMED A 'QUALIFIED SUCCESS' AND ITS CONTINUATION RECOMMENDED AFTER CERTAIN PROJECT MODIFICATIONS. THE TWO MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF STABILIZING COMMERCIAL ROBBERY WITHIN HENRICO COUNTY IN A 1-YEAR PERIOD AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NONRESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES WITHIN HENRICO COUNTY BY 10 PERCENT IN 1 YEAR WERE NOT EXPECTED TO BE ACHIEVED AT THE TIME OF THE EVALUATION; THE PROJECT WAS THUS UNSUCCESSFUL IN TERMS OF THE ORIGINALLY STATED OBJECTIVES. HOWEVER, IN COMPARISON TO THE REMAINDER OF THE COUNTY, THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SPECIAL ACTION FORCE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN REDUCING THE RATE OF INCREASE OF TARGET OFFENSES IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS. IT IS NOTED THAT CRIME DISPLACEMENT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A FACTOR RELATED TO THE HENRICO HIT II PROJECT. SIX MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HENRICO HIT II PROJECT ARE PRESENTED. THEY INVOLVE GATHERING AND UTILIZING INTELLIGENCE DATA, EXPANDING GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE OF OPERATIONS, ACQUIRING ADDITIONAL GROUND AND AIR PERSONNEL, EXPANDING AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS AND PLACING THEIR DIRECTION UNDER UNIFORMED PATROL, MODIFYING ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS, AND PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO SPECIAL ACTION FORCE PERSONNEL. THE HIT PROGRAM SPECIAL POLICE UNIT QUESTIONNAIRE IS APPENDED. SUPPORTING STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED IN TABULAR AND GRAPHIC FORM.