NCJ Number
18166
Date Published
1974
Length
873 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS OF A YEAR-LONG EXPERIMENT WHICH SHOWED THAT TRADITIONAL ROUTINE PREVENTIVE PATROL HAD NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON EITHER THE LEVEL OF CRIME OR THE PUBLIC'S FEELING OF SECURITY.
Abstract
IN THIS YEAR-LONG EXPERIMENT, THREE CONTROLLED AREAS OF ROUTINE PREVENTIVE PATROL WERE USED. ONE AREA, TERMED 'REACTIVE', RECEIVED NO PREVENTIVE PATROL. OFFICERS ENTERED THE AREA ONLY IN RESPONSE TO CITIZEN CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE. IN THE SECOND AREA, CALLED 'PROACTIVE,' POLICE VISIBILITY WAS INCREASED TWO TO THREE TIMES ITS USUAL LEVEL. IN THE THIRD AREA, TERMED 'CONTROL,' THE NORMAL LEVEL OF PATROL WAS MAINTAINED. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA GATHERED REVEALED THAT THE THREE AREAS EXPERIENCED NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN THE LEVEL OF CRIME, CITIZENS' ATTITUDES TOWARD POLICE DEVICES, CITIZENS' FEAR OF CRIME, POLICE RESPONSE TIME, OR CITIZENS' SATISFACTION WITH POLICE RESPONSE TIME. THIS TECHNICAL REPORT INCLUDES AN ANALYSIS OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE STUDY, A DISCUSSION OF DESIGN ISSUES AND METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND COMPARISONS OF KANSAS CITY WITH OTHER CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE.