Police patrol in a micro place: Determining optimal time and patrol type in reducing crime

• In Event: Police Officers on the Job: Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Over the past few decades, studies of police deterrent effects on crime have yielded mixed results, often varying quite widely in success with respect to the strategy used by the police and the methodology employed to measure the effects. Despite this, there is a growing literature showing that the police can have a positive effect on crime reduction when focusing on crime hot spots in smaller geographical places such as a city neighborhood or block. In this controlled study, a large suburban police department employs a randomized patrol strategy targeting street crime and violence in a single neighborhood to test whether length of time patrolling the neighborhood, type of patrol, and number of patrols has an effect on street crime and calls for service.

Author

• John David Reitzel, California State University, San Bernardino