NCJ Number
109693
Journal
Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science Volume: 494 Dated: (November 1987) Pages: 71-89
Date Published
1987
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Preliminary evaluation results from a national demonstration in inner city neighborhoods suggest that inner city community organizations can be more cost-effective than police in leading initiatives in crime prevention.
Abstract
These programs contrasted with programs like block watches and patrols that focus on reducing opportunities for crime without addressing the causes of crime and that have partly become public relations gimmicks designed, at best, to assuage fear. However, inner city residents want more programs like Argus, Centro, or Umoja, which address the causes of crime. The demonstration programs included some forms of opportunity reduction along with grassroots initiatives dealing with crime causes. They operated in Baltimore; Boston; the Bronx and Brooklyn, N.Y., Cleveland; Miami; Minneapolis; Newark, N.J.; Philadelphia; and Washington, D.C. The programs had considerable success. With technical assistance, the community groups were able to assemble the resources to continue after their initial 30-month grants ran out. The total funding raised for financial self-sufficiency was greater than the initial grants. More ambitious efforts that focus on crime causes should be the emphasis of replications of such programs in the future. Table and 35 footnotes. (Author abstract modified)