NCJ Number
29977
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF NIGHT CRIMES BY INCREASING AND IMPROVING STREET LIGHTING IN A HIGH-CRIME AREA IN PORTLAND (OR).
Abstract
THE EVALUATORS DECIDED THAT SINCE CRIME STATISTICS CANNOT DISTINGUISH BETWEEN AN ACTUAL DECREASE IN THE CRIME RATE AND A DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CRIMES REPORTED, THEIR EVALUATION WOULD BE BASED ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STREET LIGHTING AND SEVERAL SUBJECTIVE INDICATORS. TO DETERMINE AREA RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF HOW WELL LIT THEIR AREA IS AND THE EFFECT OF THE LIGHTING ON THEIR FEELINGS OF SAFETY. THE RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE INCREASED USE OF AREAS BY LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS IS NOT NECESSARILY A BY-PRODUCT OF IMPROVED STREET LIGHTING.