A Longitudinal Study of a Northeastern City that Experienced Significant Police Layoffs: Lessons Learned

• In Event: Police Strategies and Management

Abstract

In the last decade, fiscally challenged cities throughout the U.S. have experienced a reduction in public expenditure. Reductions have resulted in significant cuts in police services. An important question to address from an academic and policy perspective is: to what extent does a reduction in police impact violent crime? Although academics discuss organizational change, little attention focuses on how changes, such as police layoffs, affects violent crime rates. To address this challenge, using a rational choice theoretical framework, we explore whether budget cuts and police layoffs resulted in higher levels of violent crime for a fiscally endangered northeastern city. In 2011, this city suffered the dismissal of roughly 1/3rd of its police force. Preliminary analyses examined the rates and characteristics of violent crime using a sample of almost 3,000 aggravated assault, robbery and homicide incidents reported between 2010 and 2012. Results suggested that robbery and homicide increased after police layoffs. The current research used police incident report data between 2010-2014 to test several hypotheses. Current findings are discussed in the context of our previous research findings and academic literature. Suggestions are offered for future research.

Authors

• Michele Muni, New Jersey Department of Corrections / Rutgers University

• Marie Mele, Monmouth University