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2	Neighborhood Crime Prevention Putting the Community Into Community Policing
3	Importance of Crime Incidence of crime, delinquency, and fear of crime are important in process of neighborhood and urban change Impact on housing market . . . On small businesses Decline in property values Spiral of neighborhood decline
4	Crime in Context Decline of the “horizontal” system of institutions in the neighborhood. (see Warren, The Community in America) Traditional policing practices Crack cocaine, deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, weakening of the social safety net, rise of homelessness Neighborhood concentration of poverty
5	Theories of Causes of Crime Crime is caused by social disorganization Prevents community from realizing its values and maintaining social controls OR Crime is caused by subcultural values and practices Either different status system or different means to achieve common values
6	What Is Social Capital? Property of community within neighborhoods (not of individuals) Community as system of friendship and kinship networks, formal and informal associations and local institutions, rooted in family life Formed through socialization process. Norms and trust
7	What Is Social Capital? Collective efficacy as shared belief in neighborhood’s capacity for action and the achievement of community objectives Networks involving parents and teachers, religious and recreational leaders, elected officials, business owners, social service program managers, seniors, police, and court officials
8	What Does Social Capital Produce? Outdated beliefs: Poverty, mobility, single-parent households, divorce rates, domestic violence, heterogeneity, immigration
9	What Does Social Capital Produce? Current understanding: Poverty, mobility, single-parent households, divorce rates, domestic violence, heterogeneity, immigration
10	Causes of Fear of Crime Physical and social disorder Graffiti, broken windows and street lights, damaged sidewalks, abandoned cars, guns, litter, vacant and dilapidated houses and small businesses, site “hardening” Panhandling, drug dealing, gangs, prostitution, idle men, the homeless, youth as “vectors of fear” Police and courts as sources of fear
11	Importance of Fear of Crime Fear of strangers Shattered confidence in community helpfulness Suspicion Feelings of vulnerability Anger Powerlessness Loss of control Site hardening Withdrawal from community life & neighbors Decline in organizational life Decline in organizing capacity
12	Fear of Crime
13	Public Safety Approaches Traditional Policing Problem Oriented Policing Community Policing
14	Traditional Policing Prioritization of serious crimes (e.g. murder, assault) Random officer patrols No beat assignments Off the streets and into patrol cars Rapid response to crime calls Call documentation and case building Increased number of specialized units
15	Traditional Policing Reactive arrests Dispatched to volatile situations - domestic disputes, robberies in progress, hostage situations Break up unruly groups of adults and teenagers Paramilitary organization - “Thin Blue Line” A part of complex criminal justice system - including P.D., D.A., courts, probation, jail
16	Traditional Policing
17	Traditional Policing
18	Traditional Policing Does it work?
19	Problem Oriented Policing A reaction to evidence of relative ineffectiveness of traditional policing Scientific process to Analyze crime patterns Use GIS Create intervention plans (e.g. directed patrols, criminogenic substances (guns, cash, etc.), convergence of victims and criminals) Testing plans in the field
20	Problem Oriented Policing Not Community Oriented Policing Technical in nature Police identify problems, analyze them, define reaction, and implement Focus on positive impact on crime statistics Not necessarily a partnership with community Part of Community Policing model in Chicago
21	Problem Oriented Policing
22	Problem Oriented Policing
23	Problem Oriented Policing
24	Problem Oriented Policing SARA, Problem solving method Scanning: Identification of problems and prioritization. Data & GIS. Community mtgs. Police create beat plan. Analysis: Beyond symptoms - to causes. Crime “Triangle”. Adding physical features to map: businesses, vacant buildings, rentals, schools, parks, etc.
25	Problem Oriented Policing SARA, Problem solving method Response: Create comprehensive strategies that aim at making long lasting impact on problem. Two sides of the Crime Triangle. “Outside the box” thinking. Implement the strategy through programs. Assessment: Keep track of activities. Identify extent to which problems are resolved. Report back to community. Build a knowledge base.
26	Community Oriented Policing (COP) Police and community work together to identify, prioritize, and solve problems including crime, drugs, fear, social and physical disorder, and neighborhood decay COP is a philosophy and an organizational strategy, it is not a separate program within the police department
27	Community Oriented Policing General approach: Problem solving approach in partnership with the community Based on mutual respect Residents have “rights and responsibilities” Community assume selected responsibilities for realizing public safety External control (police, courts, jail) can never substitute for internal (community) control
28	Community Oriented Policing Organizational elements: Beat patrol officers (and random patrols) Long term assignments to beats Decentralization of control to patrol officers and sergeants Focus on problem solving rather than arrests or citations Reductions in specialized units, reassignments Beat meetings Store front offices
29	Community Oriented Policing Local police officer roles Continuous, sustained contact with community Direct community-based problem solving effort Organize resources of community to address problems Recruit, communicate, lead community residents Publicize efforts Help those with special needs including youth, elderly, poor, minorities, and the homeless Coordinate the services of govt and service agencies Protect residents, homes, businesses, and facilities
30	Community Policing in Chicago
31	Community Policing in Chicago
32	Community Policing Strength, Weakness, Lessons Strengths Focus on social capital Problem solving Partnership with community Partnership with other government agencies Weaknesses Role conflict with traditional policing model Police attitude toward civilians Backgrounds / training of sworn officers Unrealistic role of community police officer
33	Community Policing Strength, Weakness, Lessons Strengths Size and presence of police force Importance of crime and fear of crime Reduces the fear of crime If comprehensive, reduces crime Weaknesses Police officers determine beat plans Weak problem solving Generally low participation found at community meetings Weak collaboration with other government agencies Should police officer be at center of neighborhood redevelopment?
34	Community Policing Strength, Weakness, Lessons Class Discussion: What does the role of an organizer tell us about Community Policing?