In the mid-1970s, the state of New Jersey announced a “Safe and Clean Neighborhoods Program,” designed to improve the quality of community life in twenty-eight cities. As part of that program, the state provided money to help cities take police officers out of their patrol cars and assign them to walking beats. Five years after the program started, the Police Foundation, in Washington, DC, published an evaluation of the foot-patrol project. What did this evaluation find? What was the significance?
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The evaluation conducted by the Police Foundation in Washington, DC, found several significant outcomes of the foot-patrol project:
1. Reduction in overall crime rates: The evaluation found that the foot-patrol project led to a significant reduction in overall crime rates in the twenty-eight cities where it was implemented. These cities witnessed a noticeable decrease in incidents of burglary, theft, and other street crimes.
2. Increased public satisfaction and sense of security: The presence of police officers on walking beats improved community perceptions of safety and security. The evaluation found that residents who lived in areas with foot patrols reported feeling safer and more positive about their neighborhoods. This increased public satisfaction was an essential aspect of the program's success.
3. Enhanced police-community relationships: The foot-patrol initiative allowed police officers to develop direct contact with local residents, fostering a sense of trust and cooperation. The evaluation highlighted that this improved relationship between police and the community resulted in better communication, increased cooperation in preventing crime, and enhanced police responsiveness to neighborhood concerns.
4. Crime displacement and hot spots: The evaluation also noted the occurrence of crime displacement, where criminals moved from areas with foot patrols to other locations. However, this displacement was not widespread, and overall crime rates remained lower in the cities implementing foot patrols. Additionally, the foot patrols helped identify crime hot spots, allowing law enforcement to focus resources effectively.
The significance of this evaluation was twofold:
1. Efficacy of foot patrols: The evaluation demonstrated that foot patrols could be an effective strategy in reducing crime rates and improving community safety. It served as empirical evidence supporting the implementation of foot patrols as a viable crime prevention method.
2. Community-oriented policing approach: The foot-patrol project demonstrated the importance of building strong police-community relations and implementing community-oriented policing strategies. It highlighted the positive outcomes of officers engaging directly with the community, establishing trust, and addressing local concerns. This evaluation influenced the adoption of community-oriented policing approaches in various law enforcement agencies across the United States.
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