Evaluation of a Hot Spot Policing Field Experiment in St. Louis, 2012 - 2014

These data are part of NACJDs Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
The two central objectives of this project were (1) to evaluate the effect on crime of a targeted patrol strategy mounted by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) and (2) to evaluate the researcher-practitioner partnership that underlay the policing intervention.
The study addressed the following research questions:

Do intensified police patrols and enforcement in crime hot spots result in larger reductions in firearm assaults and robberies than in similar areas subject to routine police activity?;
Do specific enforcement tactics decrease certain type of crime?;
Which enforcement tactics are most effective?;
Does video surveillance reduce crime?;
How does the criminal justice system respond to firearm crime?;
Do notification meetings reduce recidivism?;
Does community unrest increase crime?;
Did crime rates rise following the Ferguson Killing?;

To answer these questions, researchers used a mixed methods data collection plan, including interviews with local law enforcement, surveillance camera footage, and conducting ride-alongs with officers.

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本项目的两大核心目标为：其一，评估圣路易斯大都会警察局（St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, SLMPD）实施的针对性巡逻策略对犯罪率的影响；其二，评估支撑此次警务干预的研究人员与实务工作者合作模式。

本研究针对以下研究问题展开探讨：
在犯罪热点区域强化巡逻与执法，是否相比常规警务活动区域，能更大幅度减少枪支袭击与抢劫犯罪？
特定执法策略是否能够降低特定类型的犯罪？
哪些执法策略的效果最为显著？
视频监控是否能够降低犯罪率？
刑事司法系统会如何应对枪支犯罪？
通知式会议是否能够减少再犯率？
社区动荡是否会推高犯罪率？
弗格森枪击事件后，犯罪率是否出现上升？

为解答上述问题，研究人员采用了混合研究方法的数据收集方案，包括对当地执法人员的访谈、监控录像素材采集，以及跟随警务人员执行任务的随岗观察。