Evidence-Based Policing Matrix
Research on Neighborhoods and Larger Places
Communities and Neighborhoods –Interventions which target larger geographic units such as census tracts, police beats or sectors, “communities”, or “neighborhoods.”
KEY: Rigor: M=Moderately Rigorous; R= Rigorous; VR=Very Rigorous Y-axis: F=Focused and Tailored; G=General Z-axis: R=Reactive; P=Proactive; H=Highly Proactive Dots: Black=Effective; Gray=Mixed Results; White=No Evidence of Effect; Red=Backfire effect
| Author | Intervention and Findings |
Result | Rigor | Y-Axis | Z-Axis |
| Azrael et al. (2013) | District-level homicide review process led to decrease in monthly homicide counts |  |
M | F | P |
| Barthe & Stitt (2011) | Increased patrol presence in an area following an abduction/homicide associated with declines in person and property calls in target area relative to comparison site | |
M | G | R |
| Berk & MacDonald (2010) | Broken windows approach to deal with homeless encampments associated with meaningful reduction in violent, property, and nuisance crimes | |
R | F | P |
| Boydstun (1975) | More field interrogations associated with fewer outdoor crimes | |
M | G | P |
| Bynum et al. (2014) | Comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence led to significant success | |
M | F | P |
| Caeti (1999) | Beats in which police used hot spots and zero tolerance had greater crime reductions than those in which police used POP and increased visibility | |
M | G | P |
| Clapp et al. (2005) | DUI prevention program and increased law enforcement led to decrease in self-reported DUI at the target university, whereas rates at the comparison campus remained stable. | |
M | G | P |
| Cohen & Ludwig (2003) | Targeted patrol against gun crime reduced shots fired by up to 34% and gun-related assault injuries by up to 71% on days the program was in action | |
M | G | P |
| Connell et al. (2008) | Officer-initiated community policing program associated with a significant reduction in violent and property crimes in the targeted area, butnot in comparable areas in the county | |
M | G | P |
| Giacomazzi (1995) | Community crime prevention program leads to overall decrease in crime and increase in resident quality of life | |
M | F | HP |
| Koper et al. (2016) | Multi-agency partnership focused on enforcement, prosecution, and community improvement associated with reduction in crime and violence | |
R | F | P |
| Krimmel & Mele (1998) | Targeting stolen vehicle dump sites leads to reduced auto theft | |
M | F | P |
| Lasley (1998) | Street closures associated with drop in violent crime drops, but not property crime using two year time-series | |
M | F | HP |
| Laycock (1991) | Burglary declines 62 percent after door-to-door visits to gain community intelligence and increase property marking | |
M | F | HP |
| Lindsay & McGillis (1986) | Burglary reduced for 18 months after initiation of community policing and neighborhood watch program | |
M | F | HP |
| MacDonald et al. (2016) | Increased patrol presence using private police led to significant crime reductions ranging from 43-73% | |
R | G | P |
| Mazerolle et al. (2003) [Neighborhood Beat Model] | Neighborhood beat policing was associated with a reduction in overall neighborhood crime rates and a reduction in calls for police service over a long period. | |
M | G | P |
| McGarrell et al. (2001) [Targeted Offender] | Targeted offender approach involving pedestrian and traffic stops of suspicious individuals and home visits led to a reduction in firearm-related violence. | |
M | F | P |
| McGarrell et al. (2015) | Violence reduction task force employing targeted patrol and enforcement at violent gangs and areas led to a significant decline in gun crime in treatment precincts relative to control | |
R | F | P |
| Papachristos et al. (2007) | Group of Project Safe Neighborhoods initiatives associated with greater declines in homicide in the treatment neighborhoods compared to control neighborhoods | |
M | F | HP |
| Pate et al. (1985b) | Program to increase the quantity and quality of police-citizen contacts and to reduce disorder was successful in improving evaluations of police service and in reducing perceived levels of social disorder | |
M | G | P |
| Press (1971) | Police manpower increased by 40 percent in one precinct and outdoor crimes decreased compared to control precinct | |
M | G | R |
| Saunders et al. (2015) | Focused deterrence intervention targeting drug markets led to significant decreases in violent, drug, and overall crime | |
R | F | HP |
| Sherman et al. (1995) | Directed patrol to increase gun detection leads to significant increase in gun seizures and decline in gun-related crime. | |
M | F | P |
| Skogan et al. (1995) | After 18 monthly police-community meetings, reductions in some crimes and victimization using some measures but not others | |
M | F | HP |
| Smith (2001) | 92 percent reduction in crime in the target area during a crackdown. Crime reduction persisted in some parts of the neighborhood 6 months later | |
M | G | P |
| Tita et al. (2003) | Violence declined during and after the pulling levers intervention | |
M | F | P |
| Tuffin et al. (2006) | POP program resulted in positive changes in crime, perceptions of antisocial behavior, and feelings of safety after dark. | |
M | G | HP |
| Wycoff et al. (1985) | Door-to-door police visits associated with reduced victimization | |
M | G | HP |
| Banerjee et al. (2019) | Rotating sobriety checkpoints led to significant decreases in nighttime traffic crashes and deaths. However, there was some evidence to suggest that daytime crashes increased in these areas as well |  |
VR | F | P |
| Heaton et al. (2016) | Privately funded police force was associated with long-term, but not short-term, reductions in overall violent crime. No effect was observed for property crime or violent crime committed in public spaces | |
R | G | P |
| Jang et al. (2012) | Hot spots policing with numerous traffic stops and field interviews | |
M | G | P |
| Johnson et al. (2017) | Target hardening in burglary-hit neighborhoods creates modest prevention effects in some places | |
R | F | P |
| Josi et al. (2000) | Larceny and burglary drop in beats with increased traffic stops compared to routine patrol | |
M | F | P |
| McCabe (2009) | One of two narcotics enforcement initiatives was successful in reducing crime | |
M | F | P |
| Nunn et al. (2006) | Covert drug trafficking interdiction associated with an overall crime decline in target area, but an increase in drug-related calls for service | |
M | F | P |
| Pate et al. (1985a) | Proactive disorder arrests associated with significant reductions in total Part I crimes, personal crimes, and burglary. | |
M | G | P |
| Rydberg et al. (2018) | Directed traffic patrol intervention to reduce violent crime was associated with both significant increases and decreases in violent crime depending on the control area used | |
R | G | P |
| Sedelmaier & Hipple (2016) | Data-driven foot patrol intervention with elements of POP was associated with decreases in crime in treatment areas, but similar decreases were observed in control areas | |
M | F | HP |
| Uchida & Swatt (2013) | Targeting violent repeat offenders in specific target areas found successful intervention when mixed hot spots patrol with focused offender tactics. | |
M | F | P |
| Beck (2010) | DDACTS intervention did not lead to significant changes in crime incidents, calls for service, or traffic accidents |  |
M | G | P |
| Bennett (1990) | Lower socioeconomic status areas that tended to be higher in crime had less surveillence and less effective neighborhood watch programs | |
M | G | HP |
| Hunt et al. (2014) | Predictive policing found no statistical difference in property crime | |
R | F | P |
| Kelling et al. (1974) | No difference in crime by beat based on the number of police cars assigned to random patrol. | |
M | G | R |
| Mazerolle et al. (2003) [Shopfront Model] | The establishment of a police office in a community hub (e.g., shopping center, mall) did not lead to decreases in reported crime. | |
M | G | P |
| McGarrell et al. (2001) [Directed Patrol] | General deterrence approach to directed police patrol, which focused on maximizing vehicle stops and enforcing traffic violations, did not reduce violent crime. | |
M | G | P |
| Novak et al. (1999) | No decline in burglary or robbery following proactive disorder enforcement | |
M | F | P |
| Pace (2010) | Order maintenance unit had no effect on offenses | |
M | F | P |
| Pate et al. (1985)(Houston) | Monthly newsletter with crime data failed to reduce victimizations of recipients | |
VR | G | P |
| Pate et al. (1985) (Newark) | Monthly newsletter with crime data failed to reduce victimizations of recipients | |
VR | G | P |
| Pate et al. (1987) | Community block watch has no impact on crime | |
R | G | HP |
| Police Foundation (1981) | No difference in crime by number of foot patrol officers assigned | |
M | G | R |
| Roman et al. (2005) | Gang crackdown led to no significant decrease in violent crime or drug offenses | |
M | G | P |
| Sviridoff et al. (1992) | Crackdown on crack market, but no change in violent crime rate | |
M | F | P |
| Wycoff & Skogan (1993) | No decrease in victimization after increase in police-community meetings in target district | |
M | G | HP |
| Weisburd et al. (2008) | Risk-focused policing program targeting juvenile risk factors has no influence on self-reported delinquency | |
VR | F | HP |
| Weisburd et al. (2015) - Beats | Knowledge of where police officers patrolled did not affect directed patrol at the beat level | |
VR | G | P |