Neighborhood Watch Research Study

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH RESEARCH STUDY

Aim of study : Lethbridge , a small suburb has implemented a small neighborhood watch program . The study aims at examining the impact of the program on volumes of complaints about victimization , fear of crime and deviant behavior or unsociable acts such as graffiti or disly behavior that cause annoyance in the local neighborhood

Scope of Research study : The research study on Neighborhood watch will proceed along the following steps

Prompt attention to problems of the study

Personal contact with community leaders and police executives involved in study

p Data collection by survey , observation , inspection and examination

Informal interviews with local residents

Drafting questionnaire and schedules

Pre-testing questionnaires and schedules

Examination of results of pre-tests to detect and eliminate inconsistencies

Drafting revised final questionnaires

Outlining field interviews

Analyzing collected data

Drafting of final report

Source of research design : This research design has been inspired by the Design used by Samuel Stouffer in his studies of the American Soldier It is a routine design , which is at once practical for applied research as well as rigorous to scientific prescription

Progress of research-

The problem under research was identified- whether the Neighborhood watch program has led to a decline in complaints of victimization and fear of crime , unsocial acts and suspicious behavior that may cause annoyance or alarm to the local residents . A systematic analysis of the problems involved study of crime figures and public perceptions of the sense of security before and after commencement of the program evaluating the extent and application of community mobilization and sensitization , checking of documentation relating to actual implementation , assessment of the quality of collaboration among local residents and the integration of the beat police into the program Neighborhood watch being one of the acknowledged strategies in community policing , the study would also consider if crime prevention and other objectives of the program could have been better achieved if neighborhood watch was combined with other strategies commonly adopted in the community policing paradigm To make the study academically meaningful and empirically sound community leaders and beat officers were interviewed to elicit important information like public perception of the sense of security in the local neighborhood and to collect figures of reported crime as well as victimization before and after program , extent of community participation , nature of crime prevention strategies such as target hardening by means of physical measures as well as by community mobilization to promote social cohesion , the employment of other location specific tactics if any etc

Collection of Data on the fear of crime including a ) complaints on crime , suspicious activities reported , deviant behavior b ) Any Increase /decrease in complaints over a period d ) No of people enrolled neighborhood watch scheme e ) Partnerships with other resident associations

Informal interview with people concerned- Interview with citizens will unfold information on the motivation , efficacy and success of the Neighborhood watch program . Particular emphasis on whether collaborative efforts to promote safety in the neighborhood has lead also to a sense of ownership of the neighborhood by...