Comm policing Chapter 4

CHEERS: community, harm, expectation, events, recurring, similarity

6 required elements of a problem

Response (SARA)

Acting to alleviate the problem, that is, selecting the alternative solution or solutions. Finding out what other communities with similar problems have tried and with what success. At this point goals are refined and interventions are implemented.

Entrapment

An act of gov agents to induce a person to commit a crime that is not normally considered by the person for the purpose of prosecuting that person.

Incident

An isolated event that requires a police response. (NOT a series of events or a cluster) The primary work unit in the professional model. Police are more productive if they respond to incidents as symptoms of underlying community problems

Hot spots

Areas whr incidents of crime and disorder tent to cluster in close proximity to one another. Given that prevention is one of the primary goals of proactive policing, hot spots enforcement may provide police with new ways to break the cycle of crime. 9 out of 10 agencies use hotspot.

sting operation

Artful deceptions and undercover operations. Modern sting operations have been justified as an effective, less forceful way to catch criminals as well as collect evidence.

Hiring illegals that are legal residents.

Ch. 3 Agencies that have a hard time getting new hires to enhance diversity in their agecny have turned to:

Some form of Civilian Oversight

Ch.3. The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing considers what to be a "best practice" and is highlighted as one of the main pillars necessary to strengthen police-community relations?

The problem solving process will not always result in success and mistakes should be expected and seen as learning opportunities. Mistakes that should be avoided: spending too much energy on unimportant details, failing to resolve important issues, close mindedness, secretive about true feelings, not expressing ideas. Dealing with symptoms rather than causes

Common mistakes in Problem Solving.

Developed by NYPD 1994 Computer stats and comparative stats 1. Data collection and analysis 2. Rapid deployment of personnel/resources 3. Effective tactics and strategies to address crime 4. Relentless follow-up and accountability.

Components of the CompStat Model

The Broken Windows philosophy by taking a zero-tolerance to minor infractions and offenses, under the premise that a police focus on social disorder and quality of life issues can impact and reduce serious crime

Compstat model embraces which philosophy?

least-effort principle

Concept proposing that criminals tend to commit acts of crimes within a comfort zone located near but not too close to their residence

Geographic information system (GIS)

Creating, updating and analyzing computerized maps

Ch. 3 Theory: Cohen/Felson Routine Activity theory

Crime occurs at the intersection of three variables: availability of a suitable target, absence of a watchful Guardian, and the presence of a motivated offender. This theory gives equal weight to the victim and offender.

impact evaluation

Determines if the problem declined.

process evaluation

Determines if the response was implemented as planned.

quantitative data

Examine the amount (quantity) as a result of the response. Measured by before and after data.

qualitative data

Examine the excellence (quality) of the response. How satisfied were the officers and citizens. Most frequently Determined by focus groups, surveys ...

Analysis (SARA)

Examines the identified problem's causes, scope, and effects. Includes determining how often the problem occurs and how long it has been occurring, as well as conditions that appear to create the problem. This step is most often skipped. The first step in analysis is to determine what information is needed.

Experienced a 28% increase in commercial burglaries, including 7% at storage facilities. During the investigation, they discovered disc style locks seemed to be the most effective measure for securing storage units (facility that required these locks had not suffered a single burglary). The detectives conducted an experiment to implement these locks and worked with storage facilities and developed a best practices guide. As a result, a 69% reduction in burglaries from the pervious year.

Example of POP; Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Discovered nuisance activity impacting Quality of Life in many neighborhoods (incidents). The Police found the underlying issue was an open air drug market (problem) in these same nuisance neighborhoods. The department parked an unmanned squad car in front of the problem properties but was so badly damaged it was no longer drivable. A better solution was a former Brinks armored vehicle (Armadillo) that had a decal that read "Peoria Police Nuisance Property Surveillance". As a result, crime reduction and decreased calls for service, restoration of peace, citizen satisfaction.

Example of POP; Peoria, Il

Shared values, participation in voluntary associations, spiritual connections, and positive interactions w/ neighbors.

Factors that are most important in establishing a "sense of community"

grouping incidents and identify the underlying causes of problems in the community.

L01 explain how problem solving requires changes in the ways police treat incidents

Doing things right (efficiency) has been the primary focus in Law enforcement. Doing the right thing (Effectiveness) is the emphasis of community policing. Effectiveness should produce efficiency.you can have effectiveness w/o efficiency, but you can NOT have efficiency w/o effectiveness.

L02 Compare and contrast efficiency and effectiveness, noting which one community policing emphasizes

The 1st step is grouping incidents as problems

L03 Identify the first step in a problem-solving approach

Scanning. Analysis. Response. Assessment.

L04 4 stages of problem solving in the SARA model. The SARA models stresses there are no failures, only responses that do not provide the desired goal.

Challenges officers to carefully consider their decisions and the short and long term consequences of those decisions. Goal is to fuse problem solving and morality.

L05. Purpose and goal of the Dilemmas-Options-Consequences Model (DOC)

It changes the focus from the criminal to the location of crimes- the hot spots and hot dots whr most crimes occur.

L06 whats the focus of crime mapping?

1. group incidents as problems 2. Focus on problem of concern to the public 3. Focus on substantive problems as the heart of policing. 4. Use systematic inquiry 5. Thorough analysis, but not complicated 6. Avoid broad labels for grouping incidents 7. ID interested parties in a specific problem 8. Capture and critique the current response 9. Encourage and broad search for solutions 10. Adopt a proactive stance 11. Strengthen the decision-making by accountability 12. Evaluate results.

The key elements of POP

Problem Analysis Triangle (crime triangle)

When 1. Likely offenders. 2. Suitable targets Come together in time and space. 3. In the absence of capable guardians.

1. Is this decision consistent with the agency's goals/mission. 2. Is it a long term solution. 3. Is it cost effective. 4. Is it legal, ethical, practical. 5. Is it acceptable to those responsible for implementing it.

When evaluating a decision made during a problem-solving brainstorm session, ask: 5

1. Is the decision consistent w/the agency's mission, goals, objectives? 2. Is it a long term solution? 3. Is it cost effective? 4. Is it legal, ethical, practical? 5. Is it acceptable to those responsible for implementing it?

When evaluating decisions made during a problem-solving brainstorming session, ask;

Analysis. Due to the nature of the problem often times seems obvious or there is pressure to get the problem solved.

Which step in the SARA model is often skipped and why?

Herman Goldstein 1993

Who developed POP

Fewer than 10% of address from which the police receive calls accounts for more than 60% of those calls. If treated as separate incidents, then each dispute would be handled by officers anxious to pacify the complainants and get back on patrol as quickly as possible.

Wilson and Kelling Illustration of the consequences when Problem-Solving emphasis is placed on EFFICIENCY instead of Effectiveness.

geographic profiling

used to determine general location of offender's residence this can help prioritize suspect list, direct stakeouts, and canvasses

Operation Cease Fire

•1998 Goldstein winner. S-Boston PD had a large increase in youth homicides from 1987-1990 that resulted from Gang shootings. A-harvard study found gun traffickers and illicit gun acquisitions was the supply side and Geo Mapping found most homicides happened in 3 neighborhoods. R-two pronged response: First, directed law enf attack on gun trafficking. Second, created a deterrent to gang-violence by educating youth that violence would result in a sever crackdowns on their gang. A-first two years of the operation resulted in a 70% decline in youth homicides.

Effectiveness.

What is the ultimate goal when responding to problems?

Implementing new strategies, rigorously evaluating its effectiveness, and reporting its results that in a way will benefit other agencies.

A Problem-Oriented policing carries a commitment to: 3

Problem

A cluster of similar, related, or recurring incidents rather than a single incident Or. A recurring set of harmful events in a community that members of the public expect police to address.

S.A.R.A. Model

A policing model of a four stage approach to problem-solving: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment

The availability of high-level analytic capacity in the department

Goldstein has argued that POP depends crucially on

Ch. 3 Theory: Beccaria classical theory

Holds that people are free and will commit crimes because they want to. "Free Will"

Ch. 3 Theory: Lombroso's Positivist Theory

How a person acts is a result of genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Criminals are "victims of society" this conflicts with the classical "free will" theory.

Scanning (SARA Model)

Identifying recurring problems and prioritizing them to select on problem to address

Mediation

Intervention of a third party into an interpersonal dispute, where the third party helps reach a resolution. Alternative dispute resolution.

Problem-Solving approach

Involves proactively identifying problems and making decisions about how to deal with them

SARA model was used to address a chaotic situation that involved intoxicated 18-25yr olds from the university of Madison.

Madison Wisc, PD used which model to address the issues they encountered during their annual 3-day Halloween festival.

Efficiency

Minimizing waste, expense, or unnecessary effort. Results in a high ratio of output to input. Making the same efficient responses to the same location is not really effective.

Magnet phenomenon

Occurs when a phone number or address is associated with a crime simply because it was a convenient number or address to use

Problem-Oriented Policing

Pioneered by Herman Goldstein. A department wide strategy aimed at solving persistent community problems by grouping incidents to identify problems and determine causes

1. Benefits exceed the ethical cost of deception. 2. Deception is "soft" coercion compared with other types police are authorized to use.

Police defend stings with 2 arguments:

Routine activity theory

Principle of environmental criminology that states crime occurs at the intersection of a motivated offender, a suitable target, and an absent or ineffective guardian (similar to Criminal triangle)

Effectiveness

Producing the desired result or goal. Doing the right things.

Assessment (SARA)

Refers to evaluating how effective the intervention was. Was the problem solved. This should include both Qualitative and quantitative data. Most frequently measured by before-and-after data.

Sorrells v United States (1932)

Society is at war with the criminal classes, and in waging war the forces of prevention and detection may use traps, decoys, and deception to obtain evidence of a crime.

Crime-Specific planning involves reviewing these 4 factors

The offense, the target, impact, response

United States v Russell (1973)

There are circumstances when the use of deceit is the only practicable law enforcement technique available. Its only when the government's deception actually implants the criminal design in the mind of the defendant, Thats when the entrapment defense comes into play.

They are simply another form of lying, which is morally wrong, period. Detractors question if such deception is ethically worse if the deceiver is a Gov Official.

What is the ethical challenge most often brought against sting operations?