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Commonly Used Measures of Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs

Community Policing

Process Measures

• Number of police attending meetings
• Number of police agency officials attending meetings by specialized roles (e.g., commanders, lieutenants, captains, etc.)
• Number of residents attending meetings
• Number of volunteers participating in neighborhood watch
• Number of police calls for service
• Number of drug cases referred to the district attorney's office
• Number of problems solved
• Type of community partnerships formed
• Plan developed by police and community to address problems

Outcome Measures

• Change in community attitudes toward law enforcement
• Change in perceptions of neighborhood crime
• Change in levels of community satisfaction with police services
• Change in fear of crime
• Decrease in neighborhood disorder
• Decrease in criminal activity (e.g., prostitution or drug trafficking)
• Change in police calls for service

Neighborhood Watch Programs

Process Measures

• Number of neighborhood watch meetings
• Number of police officers assigned to the neighborhood
• Number of arrests for burglary and robbery
• Percentage of neighborhood residents participating in neighborhood watch

Outcome Measures

• Decrease in burglary
• Decrease in fear of burglary
• Decrease in community disorder
• Increase in neighbor recognition
• Perception of robbery as a crime problem
• Perception of neighbor helpfulness
• Perception of police response time when called for help
• Degree of safety felt when alone in the neighborhood during the day
• Change in residents' attitudes about their role in crime prevention
• Change in police attitudes toward their relationship with residents
• Change in police attitudes toward the community
• Change in deployment of police resources
• Frequency of walking in neighborhood during the day

Weed and Seed

Process Measures

• Amount of training provided to Weed and Seed programs
• Numbers of new construction/renovation activities conducted
• Number attending community involvement efforts
• Number of community cleanups
• Number of youth, social services, and employment programs implemented
• Number of targeted areas using technology to access information
• Number of community development corporations established in target areas

Outcome Measures

• Trends in arrests in Weed and Seed areas
• Level of victimization in Weed and Seed areas
• Change in perceptions of neighborhood
• Improvement in perceptions of social services programs
• Improvement in perceptions of Weed and Seed program
• Change in perceptions of police

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