This research empirically examines the contribution that funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has had on police productivity in the United States from 1995 to 1999. Six years of panel data was assembled to assess the effect of COPS funding on police productivity (arrest) while controlling for other factors that could influence the relationship. COPS funding data was combined with Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data, 1990 U.S. Census data, and Labor Statistics data. A total of 4,482 cities are included in the study sample, accounting for more than 110 million Americans living in the United States. Primary findings suggest that after controlling for other factors, COPS hiring initiatives have resulted in a significant increase in police arrests for violent, drug, and social disorder offenses for the entire population of COPS grantees.
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