DO THE POLICE PREVENT CRIME

• NCJ Number: 17386
• Author(s): J Q WILSON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 6 pages
• Corporate Author: New York Times
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, OCTOBER 6, 1974

Annotation

SEVERAL STUDIES ARE REVIEWED CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATROL PROCEDURES IN REDUCING AND PREVENTING CRIME.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR'S RESEARCH INDICATES THAT A MASSIVE INCREASE IN POLICE PRESENCE ON FOOT IN DENSELY SETTLED AREAS WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN CRIMES, SUCH AS MUGGINGS AND AUTO THEFT, THAT REQUIRE THE PERPRETRATORS TO USE THE CITY STREETS. SECOND, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN RANDOM PREVENTIVE PATROL BY POLICE IN MARKED CARS DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON CRIME RATES NOR DO THEY TEND TO REASSURE THE CITIZENRY ABOUT THEIR SAFETY. TEAM POLICING APPEARS TO BE BENEFICIAL IN REDUCING BURGLARIES. FINALLY, THE CRIME ATTACK STRATEGY AIMED AT SPECIFIC OFFENSES MAY HOLD GREAT PROMISE, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN THOROUGHLY EVALUATED.