NCJ Number
176547
Date Published
1999
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article provides objective information and analysis of zero tolerance policing.
Abstract
The term "zero tolerance" is attractive to some members of the public because it symbolizes a quick fix. To others it raises the specter of repression. Whatever its connotation, it obscures the complex reality of contemporary policing. Strict enforcement of minor crime merits consideration among a variety of law enforcement strategies, such as focusing on crime "hot spots" within the general strategic framework of problem-oriented policing. Zero tolerance approaches should be accompanied by careful monitoring and evaluation, to ensure that their implementation is appropriate in terms of time and place, and that their potential benefits are not overshadowed by their downside effects. Zero tolerance initiatives should also be evaluated in terms of their long-term effects on persons arrested, as well as their short-term effects on the incidence of crime in the community. Note, references