NCJ Number
18729
Date Published
1973
Length
34 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING SECURITY IN CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY (TCA) RAPID TRANSIT CARS AND STATIONS AND FOR INCREASING PUBLIC USE OF THOSE CARRIERS BY REDUCING ASSOCIATED CRIME AND THE PERCEIVED FEAR OF CRIME.
Abstract
THIS REPORT SUMMARIZES THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY BOTH IN AND ASSOCIATED WITH THE TCA'S RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM. IN ADDITION, IT ANALYZES HOW THE PUBLIC PERCEIVES THE CRIME THREAT AND RELATED THAT THREAT TO THEIR USE OF PUBLIC MASS TRANSPORTATION. TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE SYSTEM'S EXISTING SECURITY MEASURES, THE VARIOUS SECURITY EQUIPMENTS AND PROCEDURES AVAILABLE, AND THOSE SECURITY FEATURES DEEMED DESIRABLE BY PUBLIC SURVEY, THE STUDY RECOMMENDS THE DEMONSTRATION PLACEMENT OF TWO ADDITIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS. ONE OF THESE IS A 'TELEVIEW ALERT' SYSTEM CONSISTING OF FOUR PRIMARY ITEMS: A PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM, A PUSH/PULL EMERGENCY ALARM, AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE, AND A CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION SYSTEM. THE OTHER SYSTEM IS A TICKET AGENT/ALARM COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM CONSISTING OF TWO SEPARATE INTERCOMS AND A SILENT EMERGENCY ALARM TO LINK THE AGENT TO THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ZONE DISPATCHER AND TO HIS SUPERVISOR. THE RATIONALES FOR IMPLEMENTING THESE SYSTEMS ARE PRESENTED, AS IS A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING THEIR EFFICACY.