Kappeler: Community Policing, 6th Edition


Case Studies with Questions and Answers

Chapter 09: Community Crime Prevention

The City of Lubbock, Texas has an extremely high crime rate. Recently there has been an increase in both violent crime and property crime. Specifically, motor vehicle theft, arson, aggravated assault, and murder have all increased by 50%. Chief Tex Girafa of The Lubbock Police Department is interested in exploring different policies and procedures that could help lower the crime rate. Following the basic premise of community policing Chief Girafa would like to assemble a committee that is representative of the community to investigate the crime problem and all possible solutions. He would like the committee to consist of the following; everyday citizens, police personnel, leaders of civic and social agencies, business leaders, religious leaders, and academics from the local university. The committee was also gathered to reflect as closely as possible the racial, ethnic, and gender makeup of the community.

A committee was organized and consisted of sixteen people. Each member made a list of concerns according to their neighborhood and background. For example, business leaders were concerned with the rise in auto thefts and arson to their businesses. Citizen representatives pointed out their concern for burglaries to their homes. Religious leaders and social service agency representatives discussed the need to address aggravated assaults and domestic violence.

The committee decided that the best way to lower the crime rate was to build a stronger sense of community while at the same time put in other mechanisms and safeguards to help deter criminal activity. The academics on the committee suggested three theoretical foundations from the field of community policing that could assist in lowering the crime rate. All three theoretical perspectives have been studied and tested for their effectiveness in the real world. In the end three theories were discussed that could help reduce the crime rate, Social Disorganization Theory, Rational Choice theory, and Routine Activities Theory.

Questions

  1. How can social disorganization theory help reduce the overall crime rate?
  2. Correct Answer

    According to Social Disorganization Theory neighborhoods that have a crime rate have the following characteristics: 1) Transitional neighborhoods; 2) No stable population, people are constantly moving in and out; 3) Disorder in that social organizations that make a community strong are absent. By addressing these issues the crime rate can be reduced.


  3. How can Rational Choice Theory help reduce the rate of aggravated assaults or domestic violence?
  4. Correct Answer

    Rational Choice Theory tells us that people are constantly weighing the costs and benefits of their actions. People choose behavior that will bring the most pleasure with the least amount of pain. The community was advised to create new laws that would give out harsher punishment for those convicted of domestic violence, hence increasing the pain aspect of those who commit this type of crime.


  5. According to Routine Activities Theory how can it be applied to the real world to reduce the rate auto theft and arson?
  6. Correct Answer

    According to Routine Activities Theory a crime consists of three elements: 1) A motivated criminal; 2) A target or object of crime; 3) The absence of guardianship. Businesses were advised that if they can intervene with one of these elements then a crime can be deterred. By addressing number 2 & 3 business owners were able to make targets harder for criminals to select (putting valuables in a safe or better security measures).


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