NCJ Number
150523
Date Published
1974
Length
885 pages
Annotation
The Kansas City Police Department (Missouri) conducted an experiment from October 1, 1972, through September 30, 1973, designed to measure the impact routine patrol had on the incidence of crime and the public's fear of crime.
Abstract
Three controlled levels of routine preventive patrol were used in the experimental areas. One area, termed "reactive," received no preventive patrol. Officers entered the area only in response to citizen calls for assistance. This substantially reduced police visibility in that area. In the second area, called "proactive," police visibility was increased two to three times its usual level. In the third area, termed "control," the normal level of patrol was maintained. Analysis of the data showed that the three areas experienced no significant differences in the level of crime, citizens' attitudes toward police service, citizens' fear of crime, police response time, or citizens' satisfaction with police response time. The results suggest that the uncommitted time of the police officers (60 percent in the experiment) can be used for purposes other than routine patrol without any negative impact of public safety. Further, the experiment suggests that deployment strategies should be based on specific crime prevention and service goals, contrasted with routine preventive patrol. Extensive tabular and graphic data