Increasing Collective Efficacy at Crime Hot Spots: A Patrol Force Approach in Brooklyn Park, MN

• In Event: New Findings from the Smart Policing Initiative #2

Abstract

There is strong evidence that focusing police resources at hot spots is an effective crime control strategy. However, hot spots policing strategies have generally relied upon traditional law enforcement activities (such as increased patrols or police crackdowns), and have generally ignored the social context of the places that are targeted. Based on emerging empirical evidence that social disorganization and collective efficacy may influence crime patterns at micro-geographic places, the Center for Evidence Based Crime Policy and the Brooklyn Park (MN) Police Department developed Brooklyn Park—Assets Coming Together to Take Action (BP-ACT). This Smart Policing Initiative recognizes the importance of police-community collaboration to improve public safety and reinforce informal social controls. BP-ACT is a department-wide program in which patrol officers identify key community member assets within hot spots, develop strategies to build collective efficacy, coalesce crime prevention efforts, and generate problem-solving strategies. In this presentation we describe the philosophy and process of BP-ACT and present results of our randomized evaluation of the impact of the program on crime outcomes, collective efficacy, and public perceptions of the police.

Authors

• David Weisburd, Hebrew University and George Mason University

• Charlotte Gill, George Mason University

• Alese Wooditch, Temple University