Police Actions and Effects: Comparing Neighborhoods of Different Social Status in Venezuela (From Police and the Community: Contributions Concerning the Relationship Between Police and the Community and Concerning Community Policing, P 185-197, 1990, Thomas Feltes and Erich Rebscher, eds.)

• NCJ Number: 129785
• Author(s): L G Gabaldon
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Felix-Verlag
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: German
• Country: West Germany (Former)

Annotation

A standardized survey and informal interviews gathered information about how the introduction of foot patrols affected a poor, inner-city neighborhood and a high-income, suburban neighborhood of a mid-sized Venezuelan town over a 6-month period.

Abstract

Findings indicated that crime decreased by 48 percent in the poor section and rose by 15 percent in the rich section. However, the researchers found no statistical evidence to support their hypothesis that the police intervene less forcefully with upper-class offenders or respond more attentively to upper-class victims. Although the police behaved more aggressively in the poor section, they also developed more intimate ties and even took part in community gatherings. Possibly as a result of greater trust, lower-class victims were more prone to involve the police, while upper-class victims often settled conflicts themselves. Overall, upper-class victims seemed more distrustful and less knowledgeable of police responsibilities than did lower-class victims. Foot patrols improved public attitudes toward the police in both neighborhoods. Findings suggested that the decreased victimization and increased police popularity make this more systematic approach a step toward improved crime control. Table and 16 references