Evidence-Based Policing Matrix
Neighborhood – Pate et al. (1985b)
Study Reference:
Location in the Matrix; Methodological Rigor; Outcome:
Neighborhood; General; Proactive; Moderately Rigorous; Effective
What police practice or strategy was examined?
Begun in the spring of 1983, the Coordinated Community Policing program consisted of a police community station (a ‘storefront’ office), police door-to-door contacts with citizens, a police neighborhood newsletter, intensified enforcement of public order and public conduct laws, and projects to reduce neighborhood physical deterioration in Newark, NJ. The evaluation, conducted from the fall of 1983 through the summer of 1984, used data from resident interviews and official crime data.
How was the intervention evaluated?
Program and control areas were approximately 20 square blocks, containing both residential and commercial units. Five areas with similar demographics were randomly assigned to receive certain types of programs or, in the case of the comparison area, to receive no new programs. The program was implemented as planned for 10 months. Interviews with random samples of residents of both the program area and a comparison area were conducted both before and after the program and data on recorded crime was also used for the evaluation. Monthly recorded crime data were collected for both areas for 44 months prior to and 13 months during the program’s implementation.
What were the key findings?
The program elements, in total, reduced Part I crimes and increased positive attitudes, suggesting a positive synergistic effect. A mutually beneficial partnership was created between the police and the community. The program was associated with a significant reduction in total Part I crimes, personal crimes, auto theft, and crimes which occurred outside. No significant effects were found in the comparison area.
What were the implications for law enforcement?
The authors suggest that the program’s success suggests the effectiveness of efforts to work closely with citizens and marshal community support.
Where can I find more information about this intervention, similar types of intervention, or related studies?