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Smart policing in Frisco, Texas: geographic and temporal displacement in a micro place

John L. Worrall (Criminology Program, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas, USA)

Policing: An International Journal

ISSN: 1363-951X

Article publication date: 21 March 2016

465

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate a foot patrol and citizen contact-based policing intervention in a suburb outside Dallas. Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance “Smart Policing” initiative, the intervention consisted of assigning a single bilingual officer to an economically disadvantaged apartment complex in the heart of the city.

Design/methodology/approach

An examination of calls for service across several offense types was performed for the target complex, the adjacent neighborhood, and a nearby apartment complex. The aims of the study were to determine whether the intervention affected specific calls for service and geographic and/or temporal displacement/diffusion occurred.

Findings

Two key findings emerged. First, the intervention produced several hypothesized reductions and increases in specific call types, but temporal displacement rendered those effects short-lived. Second, diffusion to surrounding areas was observed and persisted through various treatment dosages.

Practical implications

The study provides useful information to practitioners who might seek to implement foot-patrol-based tactics in hot spots and micro-places. However, foot patrol and/or citizen contact patrol alone may not yield sustainable crime reductions in their target areas.

Originality/value

Few recent studies have examined the efficacy of foot patrol in crime hot spots. No recent studies have evaluated citizen contact patrol within micro-places. This study sought to address both limitations.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grant number 2011-DB-BX-0002 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

Citation

Worrall, J.L. (2016), "Smart policing in Frisco, Texas: geographic and temporal displacement in a micro place", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 39 No. 1, pp. 36-51. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-05-2015-0063

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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