Summary
The criminal justice initiative attempts to mitigate and prevent rising levels of crime, particularly burglaries, on the west side of Killeen, Texas. The statistics since 2005 have risen to 5.37 per 1,000 residents in a year to a population of 151,666. The initiative program named Markia Crime Stoppers has the objective to reduce the rate of burglaries in the neighborhood through a series of preventive measures listed below:
- Creation of a website and mass notification system that publicizes critical information regarding potential risks, sightings, criminal activity, as well as guidelines for safety, prevention, and response in case of criminal activity.
- Purchasing and installing smart security systems for over 150 residencies in Killeen’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, teaching residents how to use these systems effectively, and establishing a direct line to police response. The systems will consist of inside security entrance alarms, video surveillance, and light sensors outside the home.
- Collaborating with the local police department and neighborhood watch to determine the best approaches to patrolling key areas based on available data analysis and identified patterns.
- Continued research into crime prevention strategies and community security, creating baseline models and using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to create simulated maps of crime patterns, allowing for greater efficiency and effectiveness in local policing.
Markia Security Crime Stoppers has six people on its staff, each with the individual expertise to conduct or oversee specific parts of the initiative. Some of the work may be outsourced if necessary but closely managed. The mission of this initiative is to use proven crime prevention strategies, quantitative data, and community stakeholder collaboration in order to decrease crime. These measures have been carefully considered and seen as giving the greatest value with minimal funding.
Most of the efforts described earlier are aimed at exploiting the self-defense, deterrence, and prevention capabilities of communities themselves from criminal victimization. The goal is to help communities become effective operational auxiliaries to the police themselves. Initiatives proposed by Markia Security Crime Stoppers seek to leverage the resources of citizen groups, public agencies, and modern safety measures to control crime (Rukus et al., 2017).
The creation of a comprehensive website and mass-notification system in the local community for crime-related elements is a practice that has been introduced in many metro areas and college campuses. It is potentially controversial in some respects, having been associated with negative perceptions, panic, and unwanted social effects. At the same time, it is necessary and effective by raising awareness and helping to gather the information that may resolve crimes by proper authorities. The notification system is meant to promote transparency and increase safety, as it can be effective in persuading people to take protective action (Hasinoff & Krueger, 2020). However, it is necessary that citizens are notified and educated that the system serves not as an alert indicating panic but as a means for awareness, transparency, and gathering information on potential perpetrators.
Meanwhile, intelligent home security systems and lighting sensors are a proven means for burglary and crime prevention. Multiple studies have indicated in 80-90% of cases, burglars attempt to determine if a residence has a security system and, if so, would choose to avoid it as a target due to the risks. Not only that, but a study found that a security system not only protects that specific residence but potentially nearby homes as well. Therefore, several homes with security systems in a neighborhood can often serve as a deterrent for burglaries for an entire area (Herrick, 2018). Systems that are supplemented with elements such as nighttime light sensors and security cameras are even more effective as they are clearly evident to perpetrators, and in many cases, they would avoid such residences.
Overall, the key management goal for Markia Security Crime Stoppers is to leverage all these crime prevention initiatives comprehensively and simultaneously. No one system or method will be a complete defense or deterrence against neighborhood crime. However, in combination, it is possible to create a system that is highly effective in crime reduction. It will require collaboration and communication between multiple stakeholders, including our organization, local police, neighborhood councils and watches if present, local government, landlords, and potentially residential security firms if involved. The objective is to build a network of collaboration and communication where these stakeholders could come together for crime prevention and also involve citizens of the city in the protection of their communities.
Timeline
References
Hasinoff, A.A., & Krueger, P.M. (2020). Warning: Notifications about crime on campus may have unwanted effects. International Journal of Communication, 14, 587-607.
Herrick, K. (2018). Do security systems really work? Web.
Rukus, J., Warner, M. E., & Zhang, X. (2017). Community Policing: Least effective where need is greatest. Crime & Delinquency, 64(14), 1858–1881. Web.