Lecture - Evidence-Based Policing and Evidence

Question 1

Evidence-Based Medicine

Answer 1

Treat crime with science
* Medicine backed by scientific evidence on what works best
(Telep & Somers, 2019 p. 172)

Doctors can calculate drugs and they can treat you without hammering your body

Question 2

Evidence-Based Policing

Answer 2

“police practices should be based on scientific evidence about what works best”
* Has seen an increased focus on using rigorous research evidence to guide police work” (Telep & Somers 2019)

Anecdotal Evidence is not scientific (NOT USED) -> Rigorous research is used in evidence-based policing

Anecdotal Evidence: Anecdotal evidence refers to evidence based on individual, personal experiences, observations, or stories, rather than systematic research or statistical analysis

Question 3

Telep & Somers (2019): Defining evidence-based policing (EBP)

Answer 3

1. Have officers heard It?
2. If so, how do they define it?
3. If so, do definitions vary by rank?

Results:

Surveys - 2 different samples from across the U.S.
- Same question, just reworded
* “Have you heard of evidence-based policing?” (closed ended)
* “How would you define evidence-based policing?” (open ended)

Variability in familiarity with EBP
* 5% provided a completely accurate definition
* 30% provided an “incorrect” definition

• Positive relationship between rank and ability to define EBP (higher rank = better answer)
• Positive relationship between higher education and ability to define EBP

Question 4

Examples of evidence-based policing: Uniforms

Answer 4

Appearance (Uniforms of Police):
* We see officers more than we interact with them

1. Approachability
2. Friendliness
3. Respectfulness
4. Accountability
5. Aggressiveness

These five variables are what people thought about when looking at the pictures of the uniformed police officers.

Changing one variable can change a persons perception

1. High visible vest = More positive perceptions, less aggressive
2. Extra load vest = Mixed
   Positive Perceptions: More respectable and accountable
   Negative Perceptions: more aggressive and less approachable
3. Batons = Aggressive, less approachable
4. Sunglasses = Aggressive
5. Black gloves = Aggressive
6. Baseball Hats = No difference (nobody cares)

Question 5

Examples of evidence-based policing: Vehicles

Answer 5

Vehicles:
* Marked
* Unmarked
* Ghost
* Unrelated

• Prefer marked cars over unmarked (transparency)
• Color: Prefer black and white over blue and white

Question 6

Fact

Answer 6

• Traffic-related issues are a major concern across NA (collisions are the leading cause of death for people ages 15-29, and 8th leading cause of death worldwide) - WHO

Question 7

Simpson, McCutcheon, & LAL (2020): Cst. Scarecrow

Answer 7

Police are increasingly exposed to reduce traffic collisions and the correlates of such collisions

Speeding Interventions:
* Gets much attention
* Comprises significant amount of police work
* Reactive and proactive

Routine Activities Theory: Police as Guardians to deter speed

Crime prevention through environmental design
Ex. Cst. Scarecrow, speed limit signs

Question 8

Simpson, McCutcheon, & LAL (2020): Cst. Scarecrow - Methods

Answer 8

Arterial Routes: More than average traffic, busy roads
Residential Routes: Regular drivers (constant, low traffic)

Cst. Scarecrow (used for 3 out of 5 weeks)
Recording device which records speed of passing drivers (used for full duration of study)

Question 9

Simpson, McCutcheon, & LAL (2020): Cst. Scarecrow - Results

Answer 9

“In the presence of the cut-out, the odds of a vehicle speeding are 0.73 times that of the odds in the absence of the cut-out” - TEST Q

In arterial routes, Cst. scarecrow has a positive effect, but it fades the longer he is present (people find out he is not real over time)
* In a curvilinear pattern
* Regardless of time of day (daytime and night time hours)

Question 10

Why did Cst. Scarecrow not work in residential streets