Social scientists have long shown great interest in the spatial correlates of crime patterns. A subset of the literature has focused on how micro-level spatial factors influence the formation of crime hot spots. At the same time, tangential research has highlighted how neighbourhood disadvantage influences crime occurrence. The current study focuses on the intersection of these perspectives through a spatial analysis of Motor Vehicle Theft (MVT) and Motor Vehicle Recovery (MVR) in Colorado Springs, CO. We begin by conducting a Risk Terrain Modelling analysis to identify spatial risk factors significantly related to MVT and MVR occurrence. We then test whether the spatial influences of the criminogenic risk factors differ across traditional measures of neighbourhood disadvantage. Findings suggest that while a citywide effect is evident for multiple risk factors, their spatial influence on crime significantly varies across neighbourhood contexts.
Research Summary: The current study analyzes the crime reduction effect of a police substation operating within a business improvement district in Newark, New Jersey.Synthetic control methods were used to create a control group that was statistically equivalent to the cumulative street units in the target area. Significant reductions of burglary and motor vehicle theft were observed in the target area as compared with a synthetic control area over the postintervention period. Robbery and theft from auto, conversely, suffered from spatial displacement. Of the six police actions included in the process evaluation, qualityof-life summonses and directed patrols increased in the postintervention period, whereas parking summonses significantly decreased.
Policy Implications:The results of this study suggest that the effect of substations on crime likely depends on certain contextual factors. Newark's substation was not a standalone facility, but the headquarters of a police unit given jurisdiction over the target area. Therefore, the opening of the substation represented an increase in visible police presence. The effect of the substation was heightened when accompanied by increases in proactive policing activities. Agencies wishing to effectively address robbery and theft 13 See https://landscan.ornl.gov/frequently-asked-questions.
ORCID
Eric L. Piza
Crime analysts play a pivotal role in evidence-based policing by readily diagnosing the nature of crime and disorder problems. Such analysis products are key in the design of evidence-based strategies. The role of analysts in the subsequent process of evidence-based policing, the evaluation of programs to determine what works, is less known. The current study seeks to fill this gap in the literature through a survey of the International Association of Crime Analyst Membership. Findings suggest that program evaluation lies on the periphery of the crime analysis profession. Across all measures incorporated in this study, program evaluation was emphasized less than all other crime analysis functions. Findings of logistic regression models further suggest that, for the most part, no specific factors are associated with increased levels of program evaluation experience. We conclude with a discussion of how crime analysts can become more involved in evaluations of police programs and strategies.
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