SPECIAL CRIME ATTACK TEAM - A CASE STUDY IN THE EXAMINATION OF POLICE PATROL EFFECTIVENESS - NATIONAL IMPACT PROGRAM EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 18280
• Author(s): J S DAHMANN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 69 pages
• Contract Number(s): F19628-75-C-0001
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Mitre Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYZES CRIME LEVEL CHANGES OCCURRING DURING THE ANTI-BURGLARY PHASE OF THE OPERATIONS OF A SPECIAL UNIT IN THE DENVER POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

THE SPECIAL CRIME ATTACK TEAM - SCAT - IS A FLEXIBLE TEAM POLICE UNIT WHICH ACTS AS AN OVERLAY TO REGULAR POLICE FUNCTIONS AS IT FOCUSES ON A PARTICULAR CRIME PROBLEM IDENTIFIED IN THE AREA, IN THIS CASE BURGLARY. THE SCAT PROJECT IS EVALUATED AS A SINGLE ENTITY, AND NO ATTEMPT IS MADE TO FACTOR OUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF VARIOUS PROJECT COMPONENTS. THE ANTI-BURGLARY EFFORT INVOLVED INCREASED POLICE PATROL, INCREASED BURGLARY INVESTIGATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. SPECIAL ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE AREA CRIME PROBLEMS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ACTION IN FIGHTING THESE PROBLEMS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT SCAT'S GREATEST IMPACT HAS BEEN OBSERVED IN BURGLARY LEVELS. DESPITE GROWING TRENDS IN BURGLARY PRECEDING THE PROJECT, DECREASES ARE EVIDENT FOR THE PROJECT OPERATING PERIOD.