PROJECT CRIME (COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH TO IMPROVE METHODS OF EVALUATION) - PROJECT REPORT 2 - AN IMPACT AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 35144
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 72 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0104
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Assoc of Central Oklahoma Governments
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A PROGRAM AIMED AT DECREASING CRIME AND INCREASING THE CLEARANCE RATE OF SERIOUS CRIMES COMMITTED IN A SMALL OKLAHOMA TOWN THROUGH PROVIDING TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PATROL SERVICE.

Abstract

THE TOWN OF HARRAH (OK) INTENDED TO IMPROVE ITS POLICE SERVICES AND PROVIDE TWENTY-FOUR HOUR SERVICE BY EMPLOYING AN ADDITIONAL OFFICER TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING TWO-MAN STAFF AND OBTAINING SUPPORT EQUIPMENT. THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROJECT REDUCED THE FREQUENCY OF CRIMES AND INCREASED THE RATE OF CLEARANCE WAS DETERMINED BY COMPARING UNIFORM CRIME REPORT ARREST AND CLEARANCE STATISTICS FOR THE TOWN IN 1974 AND 1975 AND BY STUDYING THE HARRAH POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OFFENSE RECORDS TO DERIVE A CRIME SERIOUSNESS SCORE FOR EACH OFFENSE. A TELEPHONE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TO GAUGE COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND A COST/BENEFIT ANALYSIS WAS OBTAINED THROUGH TIME RECORDS BY ACTIVITY CATEGORY KEPT BY THE THIRD OFFICER. A PROJECT ANALYSIS INVOLVED INTERVIEWING PROJECT PERSONNEL. FINDINGS INDICATE THAT CRIME REDUCTION AND CLEARANCE INCREASES WERE NEGLIGIBLE, COMMUNITY AWARENESS LIMITED, COST-BENEFIT RESULTS INCONCLUSIVE, AND DEPARTMENTAL EFFICIENCY UNCHANGED BY EQUIPMENT PURCHASED.