Returning to First Principles: Reducing the Fear of Crime in Newark

Abstract

The fear of crime has become a major problem in contemporary society. The National Institute of Justice selected the Police Foundation to conduct rigorous evaluations of several different law enforcement programs designed to address that problem in Newark and Houston. This article describes how the programs in Newark were developed, implemented, and evaluated and summarizes the results of those evaluations. The findings indicate that programs designed to carry out the original mandate of urban policing—to remain in close and frequent contact with citizens—were most effective. In response to these results, the Newark Police Department has adopted and expanded those program components found to be successful.

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