Evaluating COP effectiveness: Differences in crime measures and methodology

• In Event: The Complexities of Evaluation: Choices, Methods, Outcomes

Abstract

Program evaluation results may vary based on the outcome measure and the methodology utilized. In this study, COP program effectiveness is evaluated using arrest and report data from a suburban police department for the program location and two comparable police beats. The program will be evaluated using two different crime measures and the appropriate time series analysis to determine if results vary based on crime measure. Specifically, ARIMA models on police report data are contrasted with Bayesian time series procedures on arrest data to evaluate whether results are consistent. Possible implications may stress the importance of using multiple measures of crime and of performing various methodologies when evaluating program effectiveness.

Authors

• Ivan Gregory Birch, University of Texas at Dallas

• Nadine M. Connell, University of Texas at Dallas

• Stephen J. Clipper, University of Texas at Dallas