Situational Crime Prevention Evaluation Database

This is a collection of articles reporting evaluations of situational crime prevention initiatives. The collection is intended to facilitate research and assist practitioners in finding studies relevant to their current needs. It includes a complete bibliographical listing of studies with links to full text versions (where available).

To download a more expansive summary of each initiative, click here.

Title Citation Results
The New Parks Crime Reduction Project Matthews, R., and J. Trickey (1994b). The New Parks Crime Reduction Project. Leicester, U.K.: Centre for the Study of Public Order, University of Leicester The New Park project succeeded in reducing the numbers of burglaries from 226 in 1992 to 181 in 1993. The number of dwellings burgled also decreased from 173 in 1992 to 139 in 1993. However, during first 5 months of year two (1994) the rate of burglary began to increase.
Kerb-Crawling, Prostitution and Multi-Agency Policing Matthews, R. (1993). Kerb-Crawling, Prostitution and Multi-Agency Policing. Police Research Group, Crime Prevention Unit; Paper 43. London: Home Office Police Department Crime rates, prostitution activity, traffic use and citizens fear of crime all decreased post intervention. Some displacement occurred where prostitutes moved to other areas but numbers were fewer and place was less problematic, thus considered "benign".
Motorcycle Theft, Helmet Legislation and Displacement Mayhew, P., R.V. Clarke and D. Elliott (1989). “Motorcycle Theft, Helmet Legislation and Displacement.” Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 28(1):1-8 Reports of a drop of more than 60% in motorcycle thefts in the Federal Republic of Germany, brought about by the introduction in 1980 of fines for failing to wear a crash helmet, which was not followed by increases in thefts of cars or bicycles.
Crime as Opportunity Mayhew, P., R.V. Clarke, A. Sturman and J. Hough (1976). Crime as Opportunity. Home Office Research Study; No. 34. London: H.M.S.O Study 1: Cars protected by steering column locks had a reduced chance of being stolen; but, their increased security has in all probability resulted in older vehicles being stolen. Study 2: Vandalism occurred in places on bus where driver unable to observe.
Controlling Crime and Disorder Problems: The Role of Place Managers Mazerolle, L. G., C. Kadleck and J. Roehl (1998). “Controlling Crime and Disorder Problems: The Role of Place Managers.” Criminology 36(2):371-403 In the experimental sites, fewer males were selling drugs and there were fewer signs of physical decay after the intervention relative to the control group sites that were targeted by the patrol division which showed increased disorder and drug activity. Community cohesion and active place managers also related to decreased drugs and disorder.
Surveillance Cameras in Cincinnati: An Analysis of the Impacts Across Three Study Sites Mazerolle, L., D. Hurley and M. Chamlin (1999). Surveillance Cameras in Cincinnati: An Analysis of the Impacts Across Three Study Sites. Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati, Division of Criminal Justice Two of the three treatment experienced abrupt continuous decreases in antisocial behavior; while one revealed an abrupt discontinuous effect. Diffusion of benefit was observed outside one of the treatment areas.
An Experimental Analysis of a Program to Reduce Retail Theft McNees, M., J. Schnelle, R. Kirchner and M. Thomas (1980). “An Experimental Analysis of a Program to Reduce Retail Theft.” American Journal of Community Psychology 8(3):379-385 Shoplifting by elementary children was reduced 54 percent during project period.
Shoplifting Prevention: Providing Information Through Signs McNees, M., D. Egli, R. Marshall, J. Schnelle and T. Risley (1976). “Shoplifting Prevention: Providing Information Through Signs.” Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 9(4):399-405 Shoplifting was decreased through the use of signs. The use of general antishoplifting signs reduced shoplifting without affecting sales. However, when merchandise was publicly identified as being frequently taken by shoplifters, shoplifting was virtually eliminated.
Crime Prevention in High-Rise Rental Apartments: Findings of a Demonstration Project Meredith, C., and C. Paquette (1992). “Crime Prevention in High-Rise Rental Apartments: Findings of a Demonstration Project.” Security Journal 3(3):161-168 Intervention achieved an 82% reduction in the frequency of break and enters between the pre- and postprogram periods. In contrast, no change in the frequency of offenses against vehicles occurred during this time.
The Chicago Alley Lighting Project: Final Evaluation Report Morrow, E., and S. Hutton (2000). The Chicago Alley Lighting Project: Final Evaluation Report. Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Both the experimental and control areas experienced similar increases in all offense categories between pre- and post-installation in the experimental area, the overall increases in the experimental area, however, were more pronounced (40 percent increase versus 19 percent increase in the control area).
Neighbourhood Watch: Issues and Policy Implications Mukherjee, S., and P. Wilson (1987). “Neighbourhood Watch: Issues and Policy Implications.” Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 8. Canberra, Australia: Australian Institute of Criminology Where a high level of citizen participation occurred in a neighbourhood watch program significant reductions were likely to be achieved in reported residential burglaries. These positive results were mixed with other less encouraging findings, including a possible displacement of crime to offences other than residential burglaries, or to other areas not covered by neighbourhood watch.
Television Surveillance and Crime Prevention: Evaluating an Attempt to Create Defensible Space in Public Housing Musheno, M., J. Levine and D. Palumbo (1978). “Television Surveillance and Crime Prevention: Evaluating an Attempt to Create Defensible Space in Public Housing.” Social Science Quarterly 58(4):647-656 Only trivial differences between pre and post conditions of experimental compared to control sample, implicating no prevention benefit of CCTV according to resident surveys. Finding suspect given only 3 mos followup.
In the Dark, A Taper is Better Than Nothing: A One Year Follow-up of a Successful Street Lighting and Crime Prevention Experiment Nair, G., and J. Ditton (1994). “In the Dark, A Taper is Better Than Nothing: A One Year Follow-up of a Successful Street Lighting and Crime Prevention Experiment.” Lighting Journal 59(1):25-27 At first followup wave, victimization decreased, use of streets increased and fear of crime decreased in target area. At second followup, most crimes levels had drifted back to pre intervention levels with the exception of auto related crime. Additionally, women continued to report less fear of victimization.
Environmental Improvements and the Fear of Crime: The Sad Case of the 'Pond' Area in Glasgow Nair, G., J. Ditton and S. Phillips (1993). “Environmental Improvements and the Fear of Crime: The Sad Case of the 'Pond' Area in Glasgow.” British Journal of Criminology 33(4):555-561 Fear of victimization among respondants did not decrease, in some instances it increased.
Street Lighting and Crime: An Assessment of the Near Eastside of Indianapolis Nunn, S., K. Quinet and J. Rubleski (1996). Street Lighting and Crime: An Assessment of the Near Eastside of Indianapolis. Indianapolis, Ind.: Center for Urban Policy and the Environment, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University Of the nine target areas that received street lighting, six showed evidence of lower calls for service volumes after lighting was installed. All three intersections examined showed a reduction in CFS after street lights were installed. One of the two multi-address groupings showed a reduction in CFS volume. Other findings were mixed.
Taking a Bite Out of Crime: The Impact of a Mass Media Crime Prevention Campaign O'Keefe, G.J., H. Mendelsohn, K. Reid-Nash, E. Henry, B. Rosenzweig and H. Spetnagel (1984). “Taking a Bite Out of Crime”: The Impact of a Mass Media Crime Prevention Campaign. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Exposure to the campaign was significantly related to increases in six of the seven specific preventative activities most emphasized in televised PSAs. Particularly noteworthy were campaignrelated increases in neighborhood cooperative crime prevention efforts.
Taking a Bite Out of Crime: The Impact of a Mass Media Crime Prevention Campaign O'Keefe, G.J., H. Mendelsohn, K. Reid-Nash, E. Henry, B. Rosenzweig and H. Spetnagel (1984). “Taking a Bite Out of Crime”: The Impact of a Mass Media Crime Prevention Campaign. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Exposure to the campaign was significantly related to increases in six of the seven specific preventative activities most emphasized in televised PSAs. Particularly noteworthy were campaignrelated increases in neighborhood cooperative crime prevention efforts.
The Impact of Street Lighting on Crime, Fear and Pedestrian Use Painter, K. (1994). “The Impact of Street Lighting on Crime, Fear and Pedestrian Use.” Security Journal 5(3):116-124 Implementation of street lighting reduced crime, increased pro-social use, and reduced fear of crime.
Lighting and Crime Prevention: The Edmonton Project Painter, K. (1988). Lighting and Crime Prevention: The Edmonton Project. Enfield, U.K.: Middlesex Polytechnic Treatment area experienced reduction in victimization (from 21 pre to 3 post) and reduced fear of crime among community respondants.
Evaluating Situational Crime Prevention Using a Young People's Survey Painter, K., and D. Farrington (2001). “Evaluating Situational Crime Prevention Using a Young People's Survey.” British Journal of Criminology 41(2):266-284 Reports of youth offending decreased greater in experimental (3.43 to 2.23) compared to comparison sample (2.99 to 2.57). Some forms of youth offending also decreased during day light suggesting temporal diffusion effects.
Street Lighting and Crime: Diffusion of Benefits in the Stoke-on-Trent Project Evaluation Painter, K., and D. Farrington (1999). “Street Lighting and Crime: Diffusion of Benefits in the Stoke-on-Trent Project Evaluation.” In K. Painter and N. Tilley (eds.), Surveillance of Public Space: CCTV, Street Lighting and Crime Prevention. Crime Prevention Studies, Vol. 10. Monsey, N.Y.: Criminal Justice Press The prevalence of crime decreased by 26% in the experimental area and by 21% in the adjacent area, but increased by 12% in the control area. The incidence of crime decreased by 43% in the experimental area and by 45% in the adjacent area, but decreased by only 2% in the control area. Police-recorded crimes in the whole police area also decreased by only 2%. It is concluded that the improved street lighting caused a substantial decrease in crime in the experimental area, and that there was a diffusion of these benefits to the adjacent area. Cost effective.
The Crime Reducing Effect of Improved Street Lighting: The Dudley Project Painter, K., and D. Farrington (1997). “The Crime Reducing Effect of Improved Street Lighting: The Dudley Project.” In R.V. Clarke (ed.), Situational Crime Prevention: Successful Case Studies. 2nd ed. Guilderland, N.Y.: Harrow and Heston Crime decreased significantly (-23 percent) in treatment estate while comparison estate did not (-3percent). Day time crime decreased just as night time crime did suggesting temporal diffusion of benefit effect. Treatment estate also showed increased pro-social activity and less fear of crime.
Bexley Town Security Project: Executive Summary and Final Report Pascoe, T., and L. Harrington-Lynn (1998). Bexley Town Security Project: Executive Summary and Final Report. Watford, U.K.: Building Research Establishment Ltd Town centers with CCTV; resident facilities above retail buildings; and alarms on buildings experienced less crime than those town centers without.
Street Lighting Improvement and the Fear of Crime in Rugby, Warwick, United Kingdom Payne, S., and D. Gardiner (2003). Street Lighting Improvement and the Fear of Crime in Rugby, Warwick, United Kingdom. Warwick, U.K.: Warwickshire County Council, Planning, Transport and Economic Strategy Department The treatment area experienced a small reduction in overall actual night-time crime and disorder levels, and a significant reduction in domestic burglary incidents and vehicle crimes. Despite this, fear of crime did not change.
Evaluation of Multnomah County's Commercial Burglary Prevention Program Pearson, D. (1980). Evaluation of Multnomah County's Commercial Burglary Prevention Program. Salem, Ore.: Oregon Law Enforcement Council, Evaluation and Research Unit The treatment area experienced 18 percent fewer burglaries than the comparison county.
Situational Crime Prevention in Cerritos and Paramount Industrial Parks Peiser, R., and A. Chang (1998). “Situational Crime Prevention in Cerritos and Paramount Industrial Parks.” In M. Felson and R. Peiser (eds.), Reducing Crime Through Real Estate Development and Management. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute Case study 1: Crime reduced to 1/10 it's before treatment rate; tenancy of industrial park increased to a rate of 93% from 85%. Case study 2: reported as effective but no outcome data provided.
Guardian Angels: An Assessment of Citizen Response to Crime Pennell, S., C. Curtis and J. Henderson (1985). Guardian Angels: An Assessment of Citizen Response to Crime. San Diego, Calif.: San Diego Association of Governments Violent crime reduced 22% in treatment area compared to 42% in comparison area. Simple assaults rose 26% in treatment versus 27% in comparison. Property crimes decreased 25% in treatment area compared to 15% in comparison. Fear of crime decreased in patrolled areas.
An Evaluation of the Open Garage Door Burglary Program Pennington, R. (1977). An Evaluation of the Open Garage Door Burglary Program. St. Louis, Mo.: St. Louis County Police Department Treatment area experienced a 32% reduction in garage burglary compared to pre period, while the control area experienced a 34% reduction.
Combatting Crime in Public Housing: A Qualitative and Quantitative Longitudinal Analysis of the Chicago Housing Authority's Anti-Drug Initiative Popkin, S., V. Gwiasda, D. Rosenbaum, J. Amendolia, W. Johnson and L. Olson (1999). “Combatting Crime in Public Housing: A Qualitative and Quantitative Longitudinal Analysis of the Chicago Housing Authority's Anti-Drug Initiative.” Justice Quarterly 16(3):519-557 By 1995 significant reductions and crime were achieved and resident perceptions of living conditions improved indicating program effectiveness. By 1996 gangs began to resurface and housing auth policy caused disorder eroding positive effects of program.
Engine Immobilisers: How Effective Are They? Potter, R., and P. Thomas (2001). Engine Immobilisers: How Effective Are They? Melbourne, Australia: National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council Those autos fitted with govt. standard immobilisers had significantly lower rates of opportunistic theft compared to those without and those with sub-standard immobiliser versions. However, data suggested less effectiveness against professional theft.

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