NCJ Number
100333
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 54 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1985) Pages: 13-17
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The Houston Police Department's DART Program (Directed Area Responsibility Team) -- a decentralized, team-policing strategy -- has proven to be cost-effective in reducing crime and increasing police-citizen cooperation in an expanding population.
Abstract
The DART Program, implemented in 1983 in one district, was evaluated using a control district. Evaluation data were obtained from interviews with DART supervisors, a survey of DART and control-district officers, and a comparison of crime statistics in DART and control districts. The primary change was to a service-oriented policing style that encourages citizen involvement in crime prevention and officer interaction with citizens during patrol. Assignment of one-officer units to precise geographic areas (accompanied by a support network) and the expansion of patrol responsibilities to include investigation helped reduce response time and criminal activity over the evaluation period. The decentralization of various investigative functions facilitated cooperation between investigative sergeants and line officers. The program required a minimum amount of funding. The department is planning to implement DART in other districts.