Neighborhood by neighborhood: community policing in a rust belt city
Policing: An International Journal
ISSN: 1363-951X
Article publication date: 9 July 2018
Issue publication date: 18 March 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine citizen satisfaction with police services and perceived safety using survey research in two high crime neighborhoods. Problem-oriented crime deterrence strategies were used in one neighborhood, the other served as a control group.
Design/methodology/approach
Mixed-methods approach was used to measure the effectiveness of problem-oriented approaches in persistent high-crime areas. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were conducted by sampling addresses in both neighborhoods and analyzing results.
Findings
No between-neighborhood differences were reported regarding the satisfaction with police services or improvement in perceived safety.
Originality/value
These findings suggest that this deterrence strategy is a promising approach to reducing crime while not damaging community perceptions. However, departments must vary place-based strategies, and prevention is difficult given historical contexts, the absence of credible community partners and limited resources in a declining city.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Laci Fiala and Curtis Clevinger for their assistance and feedback. Students from Walsh University and Kent State University were invaluable as they performed the neighborhood surveying on citizen satisfaction.
Citation
Cooley, W., Bemiller, M., Jefferis, E. and Penix, R. (2019), "Neighborhood by neighborhood: community policing in a rust belt city", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 42 No. 2, pp. 226-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-01-2018-0002
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited