Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving Chapter Six Community-Oriented Policing and Problem Solving

Basic Principles of Community Policing Redefined role Public must be engaged in the fight against crime and disorder Peel emphasized this in the 1820s In the early 1980s, COP emerged as the dominant model Working partnership with community

Basic Principles of Community Policing Long-term process that involves fundamental institutional change Role from crime fighter to problem solver Decentralized organizational structure and changes in recruiting, training, evaluations, promotions Break away from incident-driven policing

Basic Principles of Community Policing Police station houses are being changed in terms of design and amenities Was seen as unfriendly places Some jurisdictions now have police stations with ATMs, kitchen-equipped meeting rooms for public use and more areas open to the public

Major Step Forward: Problem-Oriented Policing Problem solving is not new Routine application of problem-solving techniques are new Problem solving can be applied by officers throughout the agency Routine problem-solving efforts can be effective in reducing or resolving problems

Basic Principles of Community Policing Problem-orienting policing (POP) was grounded on different principles than COP, but they are complimentary POP advocates that police examine underlying causes of recurring crime Herman Goldstein is the principal architect of POP

SARA Four-stage problem-solving process Scanning Behaviors Locations People Time Events Primary purpose of scanning is to conduct a preliminary inquiry to determine if a problem does exist

SARA Analysis The heart of the problem-solving process Learn as much as possible about the problem to identify causes Identifying seriousness of the problem Knowing all the individuals involved and affected Listing all the causes of the problem Assessing current responses and their effectiveness

SARA Several methods developed for analyzing Problem-analysis triangle The use of crime-mapping and offense reports The analysis of CFS The use of community surveys

SARA Some factors known to affect volume and type of crime Population density Variations in composition of population Stability of population Modes of transportation Climate Citizens’ attitudes toward crime

SARA Types of crime analysis Tactical Provides information used to assist operations personnel Includes associating criminal activity by method, crime, time, date, location

SARA Strategic Concerned with long-range problems and projections of long-term increases or decreases in crime Also includes the preparation of crime statistical summaries, resource acquisition, and allocation studies

SARA Administrative Focuses on provision of economic, geographic, or social information to administration Problem solvers should review their findings about the three sides of the crime triangle – victims, offenders, and locations

SARA Response The ultimate challenge in POP The search for the most effective way of dealing with the problem Focuses on developing and implementing responses to problem

SARA Assessment Officers evaluate the effectiveness of their responses Reduced instances of repeat victimization Decreases in related crime or incidents Neighborhood indicators Reduced citizen fear related to the problem

Basic Principles of COPPS Both COP and POP share characteristics Decentralization Geographically rather than functionally defined subordinate units Close interactions with local communities

Basic Principles of COPPS For COPPS to succeed, the following measures are required Conducting accurate community needs assessments Mobilizing all appropriate players to collect data and brainstorm strategies Determine appropriate resource allocations

Basic Principles of COPPS Developing and implementing innovative, collaborative, comprehensive programs to address underlying causes and causal factors Evaluating programs and modifying approaches as needed

Implementation of COPPS Strongly argued that a departmentwide of COPPS be used No golden rule or any universal methods to ensure the successful adoption The role of the rank-and-file officer The role of the environment where COPPS is implemented

Implementation of COPPS Leadership and Administration Communicate to all department members the vital role of COPPS Provide incentives to engage in COPPS Reduce the barriers to COPPS that can occur Show officers how to address problems

Implementation of COPPS Human Resources Middle managers and first-line supervisors play a crucial role First-line supervisors and senior patrol officers seem to generate the greatest resistance to COPPS

Implementation of COPPS Field Operations Recruiting, selection, training, performance evaluation, promotion, honors and awards, discipline Recruiting literature should reflect the principles of COPPS Integrated into academy training

Implementation of COPPS External Relations Collaborative responses to neighborhood crime and disorder are essential to the success of COPPS New relationships and sharing of information between the police and the community

Implementation of COPPS Media provides means to educate the community about COPPS Political support Broader role of the street officer “Thinking” officers Do more than handle calls Design effective ways of responding

Community Policing in Japan Possesses the oldest and best-established community policing system in the world Four elements at the core Community-based crime prevention Reorientation of patrol activities Increased accountability to the public Decentralization of command

Community Policing in Japan Heavy emphasis on order maintenance and prevention Counseling services Trained in dispute resolution Urban police visit neighborhood households Koban

Evaluating COPPS No clear verdict until rigorous evaluations Evaluation not the same as the SARA process Outcome measures might include: Control of crime Citizen satisfaction with police services Decreased fear of crime

Crime Prevention Better to prevent a crime rather than trying to solve a crime “Lock it or lose it” Giving advice to citizens about door locks At its heart, COPPS is about preventing crime

Crime Prevention Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) “Proper design and effective use of the environment” Natural access control Natural surveillance Territorial reinforcement

Crime Prevention Five types of information needed Crime-analysis information Demographics Land use information Observations Resident information

Crime Prevention Repeat Victimization (RV) Greater attention given to offenders than to crime victims If police want to know where a crime will occur next, they should look at where it happened last One in three burglaries is a repeat burglary of a household

Crime Prevention A small number of victims accounts for a disproportionate number of victimizations Drug Abuse Resistance and Education DARE program Program needs new direction