Title
Briefing on Community Infused Problem-Oriented Policing in Crime Hot Spots (CPOP-HS)
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ)'s Office of Justice Programs has awarded the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at University of Chicago, in collaboration with George Mason University (GMU), federal grant funding to support a research project titled "A Randomized Controlled Trial on Community Infused Problem-Oriented Policing CPOP in Crime Hotspots, Looking Beyond Crime Reduction." The purpose of this research study is to test whether place-based policing strategies can be implemented to achieve a broader set of community and police agency benefits. Because of the nature and need for control and comparison groups, NORC selected the Hampton Police Division and Newport News Police Department for the study intervention due to the two departments’ history of collaboration, strong commitment to the Community-Oriented Policing method, bordering jurisdictions, and similarities in size, crime rates, personnel, and population density.
In support of the goals and objectives, the City of Hampton Police Division has been awarded sub-grantee federal funding in the amount of $90,000.00 with no match requirement.
Discussion:
NORC at the University of Chicago is an independent non-profit research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. A key finding in criminology showed that focused policing in crime hot spots can be an effective tool to address violent crime problem(s), with little evidence of displacement of crime to nearby areas, however, very little research on outcomes beyond crime reduction has been conducted in previous policing experimental studies. The goal of this research project is to test the effect of a place-based policing strategy that combines Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) and elements of community oriented policing (COP) to achieve the following objectives:
1. Reducing crime/victimization and disorder
2. Reducing fear of crime
3. Increasing residents' willingness to help neighbors and help with public order (collective efficacy)
4. Increasing citizen satisfaction
5. Improving community trust in police, police-citizen relationships, and views of police legitimacy
6. Increasing citizen involvement in preventing crime
7. Increasing police accountability to communities
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effect of a place-based policing strategy that emphasizes problem-oriented policing (POP) and elements of community oriented policing (COP) on outcomes beyond crime reduction in 100 crime hot spots within the City of Hampton. The funding provided to the City of Hampton Police Division in support of this research grant will be utilized to support Police Officer overtime over the period of performance and to send 3 police staff members to attend conferences in Washington, D.C. to support the research team in presenting outcome results from the study evaluation.
Impact:
The City of Hampton will greatly benefit from the partnership forged through participation in this research study. The Police Division will work in collaboration with NORC and GMU to identify source(s) of crime problems and analyze this data to develop response strategies. Some examples of intervention work will include working with troubled youth, educating residents on how to protect themselves from being victimized, enforcing ordinances and codes, working with residents and businesses on 'target hardening' and securing vacant residences through clean-up. The intervention teams will work with community residents and NORC/GMU to examine the overall effect of all implemented interventions and investigate and track the progress of these tailored problem-solving interventions. The idea of the project is to not take away from any current police services but to add extra Community Problem Oriented Policing to area hot spots and assess the effects of this enhancement to standard patrol services. The ability to have an independent research organization monitor and analyze the results of this method will allow the Hampton Police Division to fine-tune police services moving forward, identify any discrepancies to current practices, and stregthen the relationships between the Division and community.
The entirety of the project, in regards to the City of Hampton Police Division's contribution, will be federally funded with no fiscal impact to the City.
Recommendation:
Rec
Receive briefing and approve resolution on the Legislative agenda