NCJ Number
66594
Journal
Journal of Police Science and Administration Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Dated: (MARCH 1980) Pages: 5-14
Date Published
1980
Length
10 pages
Annotation
ALTHOUGH THE PRIMARY EMPHASIS OF THIS STUDY CONDUCTED IN LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C., WAS TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF AN INCREASE IN PATROL CAPABILITY ON REPORTED PART 1 CRIME (HOMICIDE, RAPE, ASSAULT, ROBBERY, BREAKING AND ENTERING, LARCENY, AND AUTO THEFT) IN A RURAL SETTING, THE IMPACT ON PART 1 ARREST RATES AND OVERALL RESPONSE TIME WAS ALSO ASSESSED.
Abstract
BECAUSE THE INCREASE IN PATROL CAPABILITY WAS ACHIEVED IN TWO STEPS, ALL ANALYSES COMPARE DATA FROM THE PERIODS OF PRESTUDY, PERSONNEL INCREASES ONLY, AND PERSONNEL AND PATROL CAR INCREASES. TRENDS FOR THE COUNTY AND THE STATE ARE DETERMINED. VISUAL ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THERE IS NO INDICAION OF ANY CHANGE IN THE COUNTY CRIME AND ARREST RATES AS A RESULT OF THE PERSONNEL INCREASE IN FEBRUARY, 1977, OR THE INCREASE IN PATROL VEHICLES 3 MONTHS LATER. A SIMILAR RESULT IS FOUND WHEN THE PROPERTY ARREST RATES OF THE COUNTY AND THE STATE ARE COMPARED. A ONE-WAY ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE WAS USED TO ANALYZE THE AVERAGE WEEKLY RESPONSE TIME TO ALL CALLS FOR 18 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCREASE IN PERSONNEL, THE 12 WEEKS AFTER THE PERSONNEL INCREASE BUT PRIOR TO THE INCREASE IN VEHICLES, AND THE 16 WEEKS AFTER THE INCREASE IN VEHICLES. THE AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME OF THE LAST TIME PERIOD WAS ABOUT 2 MINUTES LESS THAN EITHER OF THE PREVIOUS TWO PERIODS. ALTHOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES MAY REQUIRE PERSONNEL INCREASES FROM TIME TO TIME TO MAINTAIN SERVICE TO GROWING POPULATIONS, IT APPEARS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT RELY ON THESE INCREASES ALONE TO DETER CRIME. THE EFFICIENT AND INNOVATIVE USE OF EXISTING OR NEW PERSONNEL MAY BE A MORE EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO ACHIEVING THE GOAL OF REDUCING CRIME THROUGH INCREASED DETERRENCE. SIX TABLES AND FIVE FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.