AJ 58 – Community and Human Relations

Chapter 6 –

Community Policing and Crime

Traditional Crime Control

Primary job of LE since Reform Era has been to fight crime!

Less-than-adequate response to crime of 60’s Past 25 years

– Serious-crime rate higher in US– Media-generated fear of crime– Public pressure on politicians & police– Realization that traditional enforcement has no major

impact on lowering crime rate

Measuring Police Effectiveness

Generally accepted criteria for measuring effectiveness of police services

– Reported Crimes– Arrests– Clearance Rates– Response Times

These criteria have also become institutionalized as tools of police accountability

Measuring Crime in US

What is the actual amount of US crime?– Very difficult to measure accurately!

FBI Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)– Annual statistics based on reported crimes

Part I and Part II Offenses– Information provided by local law enforcement

Reporting standards/procedures may vary greatly

FBI Crime Clock National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)

– Measures reported and unreported crimes

UCR Index Crimes

Part I Offenses– Violent Crimes

Murder Rape Robbery Aggravated Assault

– Property Crimes Burglary Larceny/Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Arson

Part II Offenses– Minor crimes– Statistics based on number of arrests

Comparison of UCR Data

Does the UCR data truly reflect the actual “crime picture” in our country?

Which is a more serious crime, Murder or DUI?– Murders = 17,034 (2006)– Alcohol-Related Traffic Deaths = 16,005 (2006)

Barriers to curtailing “drunk driving”– Perception of not being a serious crime– May not be high enforcement priority

Recent changes due to re-prioritization of problem

– DDT’s, DUI checkpoints, etc.

Shifting Trends of Crime

Crime statistics may vary over time due to changes in how certain crimes defined or addressed

Examples…– Prohibition – Child Abuse– Domestic Violence– Hate Crimes– Juvenile “Status Offenses”

Shifting Trends (continued)

“New” crimes may arise due to changes or increases in certain behaviors

Examples– Date Rape– Designer Drugs– Stalking– Carjacking– High-Tech/Computer Crimes– White-Collar Crimes/Corporate Embezzlement

Edmonton, Canada

1,069 bank robberies during one-year period– $2.8 million in losses

182,000 stolen bikes reported – 29% reporting rate, actual number much higher– Bike theft victims about 100 times higher– $45 million estimated losses

How are these crimes perceived & treated?– By public?– By police?

Is it really wasting time to investigate “petty” crimes?

Traditional Assumptions

Assumption: Police action can prevent occurrence of crime due to visible presence of motor patrol

Kansas City Experiment (1974)– Patrols manipulated in three separate areas

No change, Calls-only, Doubled

– Results very surprising… Little to no effect on crimes, crime rate, fear of crime, etc.

What should be the focus of daily LE activity?

Traditional Assumptions

Assumption: Police intervention during commission of crime can influence outcome

Which is more important, quick call from citizen or quick police response?

– Quicker calls more likely to result in arrest!– About 75% of serious crimes are “cold” when reported to

police Apathy, skepticism, talk to other people first

Kitty Genovese, New York City (1964) What would motivate citizens to report crimes more

quickly?

Traditional Assumptions

Assumption: Police efforts after crime can resolve situation

– Patrol responds, identifies witnesses– Investigators follow-up, arrest suspect, clear

case Problems with investigative process

– Time, resources, etc. Most important factor in solving case is quality

of information received by patrol– More suspect information = More successful

follow-up

Community Policing and Domestic Violence

Legal changes in early 80’s– Mandatory arrests for protection of victim– Arrests do not prevent future DV

DV in context of other related problems– Unemployment, alcohol/drugs, etc.

CP Officers more likely to…– Provide victims with assistance– Make follow-up visits to reinforce LE concern– Encourage/refer to counseling services

Alcohol, Employment, Parenting, etc. Community workshops, high-school visits, etc.

Getting to the Roots of Crime

Traditional response has little effect on…– Root causes of crime (poverty, unemployment)– Public policies (gun control, social services)

Very little impact on crimes of passion Community Policing approaches crime in

context of other societal problems– Broadens police mandate beyond narrow focus– Restructures department to meet broader mission

Broader Mission ofCommunity Policing

Public education – How can people help combat crime?

Helping with social problems– Maintaining better living conditions– Homeless shelters– Meaningful activities for youth

Impact of Community Policing

Apply principles of CP between calls– Follow-up on property crimes– Personal contact very powerful

Builds trust Provides information

Community Policing Officers are also community-outreach specialists– Initiate more activity than patrol cops– More engaged in problem-solving activities

Positive Impact of Community Policing

Assist citizens in solving “petty” problems Recruit kids in area to help with problems

– Pick-up trash– Build benches– Clean park/playground

Advantages– Provide kids with community-service mindset– Provide kids with useful skills/positive values– Break down barriers/Humanize law enforcement

Why the police?..... Who better?