The Effect of Hot Spots Policing on Non-Violent Crime

• In Event: Smart Policing Initiative: Place-Based Strategies to Reduce Crime

Abstract

The Dallas Police Department (DPD) and the Tacoma Police Department (TPD) implemented a hot spots strategy as the initial phase of a comprehensive, city-wide strategic plan to reduce violent street crime. Empirical assessments of the strategy in Dallas and Tacoma found consistent evidence that violent crime fell. While the assessments also focused on the diffusion of violent crime reduction benefits to nearby catchment areas, they did not measure potential ancillary benefits of the strategy in reducing non-violent crime in and around the targeted hot spots or city-wide. Addressing both violent and non-violent crime is essential for promoting comprehensive safety, enhancing quality of life, and fostering community trust. Therefore, the present study evaluates the impact of the hot spot policing strategy in Dallas and Tacoma on non-violent crime. Data to address the research question were provided by the DPD and TPD and covered a five-year period: January 2019 – December 2023 (n = 60 months). Various analytic approaches, including descriptive and difference-in-difference analyses, were utilized to answer the research question. In summary, measuring the ancillary crime reduction benefits of a violent crime-focused hot spots policing strategy on non-violent crime will provide insights into the strategy’s overall effectiveness, identify synergistic crime reduction effects, and guide policy development toward comprehensive crime prevention strategies.

Authors

• Yongjae Nam, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Brandon Tregle, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Rob Tillyer, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Michael R. Smith, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Stephanie Michelle Cardwell, University of Texas at San Antonio