The Impact of Police Layoffs on Violent Crime: A Case Study

• In Event: Measuring Police Performance and Impacts

Abstract

This study looks at the relationship between police layoffs and violent crime, specifically robbery and aggravated assault in one Northeast city. The data for this study consists of incident reports collected from a large, urban police department for the years 2010 through 2014. The primary research question focuses on the extent to which violent crime rates changed after police layoffs were issued in 2011. Initial results suggest an increase in both aggravated assault and robbery rates following the layoffs, as well as changes in the characteristics of these crimes.

Authors

• Marie Mele, Monmouth University

• Michele Muni, Holy Family University