NCJ Number
63477
Date Published
1979
Length
96 pages
Annotation
THE PROCESS EVALUATION OF JACKSONVILLE (FLA.)'S FOURTH DIMENSION CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT FOCUSES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROJECT INPUTS, ACTIVITIES, AND RESULTS, BUT NOT ON LONGER-RANGE OUTCOMES OR IMPACT.
Abstract
SINCE 1975, LEAA AND MATCHING FUNDS HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED TO CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES IN JACKSONVILLE. THE PROJECT HAS FOCUSED EFFORTS ON CONDITIONS CONSIDERED TO BE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME BY INCREASING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS. EVALUATORS REVIEWED OPERATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE FOURTH DIMENSION PROJECT INCLUDING ADMINISTRATION, PERSONNEL, PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION, RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING PROCEDURES, AND BUDGETARY AND FISCAL MATTERS. METHODS OF EVALUATION INCLUDED INTERVIEWS AND A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 60 PEOPLE WHO HAD FREQUENT OR RECENT ASSOCIATION WITH THE PROJECT. THE EVALUATION FOUND THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THE FOURTH DIMENSION PROJECT IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONSIDERABLY STRENGTHENED EXISTING CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND COULD LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM; THAT PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED THE COMMUNITY-WIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAFE HOUSE PROGRAM, AN EXPANDED NEWSLETTER, THE ADDITION OF OPPORTUNITY-REDUCTION ACTIVITIES, AND THE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA ON OFFENSES AND VICTIMIZATION; THAT RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING PROCEDURES HAVE IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY; AND THAT A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF 60 PEOPLE HAVING FREQUENT OR RECENT ASSOCIATION WITH THE PROJECT REVEALS THAT 80 PERCENT WERE AWARE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE PROJECT. RECOMMENDATIONS FOCUS ON NEEDS ASSESSMENT STUDIES, COST-BENEFITS ANALYSES, IMPROVED RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING PROCEDURES, ACTIVITY FEEDBACK METHODS, AND CLARIFICATION OF GRANT OBJECTIVES. A TOTAL OF 27 FOOTNOTES, A REFERENCE LIST AND TWO APPENDIXES ARE INCLUDED.