Palm Beach County, Florida Smart Policing Initiative: Increasing Police Legitimacy and Reducing Victimization in Immigrant Communities

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Abstract

This study examined a Smart Policing Initiative (SPI) addressing robberies in a Guatemalan community in a Florida community. The centerpiece of the SPI involved the hiring of a community liaison and the re-assignment of a dedicated robbery detective to the target area. The community liaison served as a community advocate and as an intermediary between law enforcement and the immigrant community. Surveys of residents in the target area indicate that immigrants’ attitudes toward the police improved notably during the SPI, including higher levels of satisfaction, and greater levels of comfort speaking to police and reporting crimes (i.e., greater trust). Crime data indicate a short-term spike in robberies during the initial phase of the project, possibly resulting from increased reporting due to successful engagement of the residents, followed by a longer-term decline in robberies. At the same time, arrests for robberies have increased.

Citation

Relevant Evidence Summaries

The evidence was reviewed and included in the following summaries: 

What works to build welcoming and inclusive communities?

Numerous interventions to build welcoming and inclusive communities are available, with varying degrees of evidence of effectiveness. Strong evidence supports the effectiveness of structured, facilitated contact-based interventions and bystander interventions in reducing ethnic prejudice and improving well-being of people targeted by racism. Suggestive evidence specific to foreign-born groups is consistent with these findings. Strong evidence […]

About this study

AGE: Multiple Age Groups

DIRECTION OF EVIDENCE: Positive impact

FULL TEXT AVAILABILITY: Free

GENDER: All

HOST COUNTRY: United States

HOST COUNTRY INCOME: High

INTERVENTION DURATION: Ongoing

INTERVENTION: Law enforcement

OUTCOME AREA: Inclusive Communities

POPULATION: LGBTQI+ Clients

REGION OF ORIGIN OF PARTICIPANT(S): Cental America

STRENGTH OF EVIDENCE: Suggestive

TYPE OF STUDY: Suggestive evidence

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2012

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