Applied Criminology Theory

Applied Criminology Theory

It has long been argued that crime can be reduced efficiently if police officers focused their attention on crime “hot spots” (Anthony et. al, 2014). “Hot spots” are small places with significant clusters of crime. This theory is significant because the police, despite its limited resource, must continue to find ways to efficiently prevent and reduce crime. Carter and Carter (2015) opines that the police can efficiently prevent and solve crime by copying the best practices from other agencies with high homicide clearance rates. The theory behind both articles describes the idea that, the police must focus majority of their limited resources to prevent crimes in “hot spots” by adopting the best policing practices and innovations from other agencies.

Summary of Prior Literature

The emergence of hot spot policing can be traced directly to emerging theoretical perspectives in criminology that suggest the importance of “places” in understanding crime. Various reports and surveys have found hot spot policing to be very effective and efficient in preventing and solving crime (Weisburd et al. 2003). Also, research evidence suggests that focused police interventions like directed patrols and proactive arrests can produce significant crime prevention gains at high-crime “hot spots” (Anthony et. al, 2014).

Prior literature suggest that two sets of factors influences the effectiveness of police to clear homicides. The first set are the physical attributes of the homicide incident and the method used to commit the homicide incident (Litwin & Xu, 2007). The second set can be attributed to the community in which the homicide incident occurred (Litwin & Xu, 2007).

Research Design of Current Study

Carter and Carter’s study was a qualitative research that applied document analysis and interviews from four projects (2015). The study utilized semi-structured interviews with key investigative personnel to develop a process map of successful homicide investigative practices. Law enforcement agencies chosen for the study were purposive. On the other hand, Anthony et. al, (2014) identified 19 studies containing 25 tests of hot spots policing interventions as study sample. Full narratives of all 19 studies were reported. Whilst 10 of the chosen studies used randomized experimental design, the remaining 9 used quasi-experimental design. Also, the study employed a formal meta-analysis to determine the crime prevention effects in the appropriate studies.

Random effects models were used to calculate mean effect sizes. Findings 20 of 25 tests of hot spots policing interventions reported noteworthy crime and disorder reductions (Anthony et. al, 2014). The researchers found healthy evidence to assert that hot spots policing is an effective crime prevention strategy (Anthony et. al, 2014). Also, it was discovered that hot spot policing had spill-over benefits for non-targeted surrounding locations (Anthony et. al, 2014).

Carter and Carter (2015) in their study also discovered that successful agencies were those that had laid a solid foundation of community relationships and partnerships with other law enforcement agencies. Also, they found that successful agencies were most likely to depend on contemporary policing innovations such as the use of crime and intelligence analysis whilst maintaining a cooperative and team work culture.

Significance of Study to Modern Day Society

The significance of both studies cannot be over-emphasized as the police, though under-funded and poorly resourced, are constantly tasked with operating efficiently to reduce, prevent and solve crimes. Both studies provide key findings that can be used as blueprints for law enforcement agencies to ensure safer and crime-free neighbourhoods.

REFERENCES:

Braga, A. A., Papachristos, A. V., & Hureau, D. M. (2014). The Effects of Hot Spots Policing on Crime: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Justice Quarterly,31(4), 633-663. doi:10.1080/07418825.2012.673632

Carter, D. L., & Carter, J. G. (2015). Effective Police Homicide Investigations. Homicide Studies.20(2), 150-176. doi:10.1177/1088767915576996

Litwin, K. J. & Xu, Y. (2007). The dynamic nature of homicide clearances: A multilevel model comparison of three time Periods. Homicide Studies. 11(2), 94-114.

Weisburd, D., Mastrofski, S., McNally, A.M., Greenspan, R., & Willis, J. (2003). Reforming to preserve: Compstat and strategic problem solving in American policing. Criminology and Public Policy. 2, 421 – 456.