NCJ Number
177893
Journal
Evaluation Review Volume: 22 Issue: 6 Dated: December 1998 Pages: 751-779
Date Published
1998
Length
29 pages
Annotation
This study reports on an evaluation of the effects of street lights on crime in several Indianapolis neighborhoods.
Abstract
The local electrical utility joined forces with block clubs and neighborhood organizations in the Near Eastside Community Organization, Inc. (NESCO) area in an effort to increase lighting in several neighborhoods. New lights were installed in a variety of areas, and approximately 12 months later this evaluation was conducted to determine the effects of the installation of street lights on crime and disorder in the NESCO area. The evaluation measured crime in terms of calls for service (CFS) to the police. Two different approaches were used to assess the impact of lighting: whether the raw count of CFS increased or decreased from the preinstallation to the postinstallation period in the target and control areas, and whether the average weekly CFS increased or decreased after the installation of the street lights in selected areas. Overall, the findings are consistent with the mixed reports of other previous work on the deterrent potential of lighting. The analysis of the target areas suggests that enhanced street lighting in particular neighborhoods is sometimes associated with concurrent reductions in reported crime. It is possible that many street lights have a deterrent effect on the individual address, but the diffusion of positive deterrent effects to other adjacent or nearby parcels may be limited. 15 tables and 24 references