Michael J. Gaffney

Social integration, individual perceptions of collective efficacy, and fear of crime in three cities

Several rival explanations have been advanced to account for fear of crime among neighborhood residents. Social integration is the least developed concept in this regard. We assess the mediating role that perceptions of neighborhood collective efficacy, defined as the trustworthiness of neighbors and their willingness to intervene as informal social control agents, have in the relationship between social integration and fear of crime. Our data were obtained from random sample surveys of residents conducted in three cities. Structural equation models indicate that social integration operates through perceptions of collective efficacy in predicting fear of crime, and similar results appear across three cities.

Assessing Collaborative Capacity in a Multidimensional World

Collaborative capacity is central to long-term problem-solving success and poses a challenge for public management scholars—How does one measure collaborative capacity? The authors treat collaborative capacity as an outcome and develop a multidimensional collaborative capacity assessment framework that measures whether capacity is enhanced, stays the same, or is diminished. The framework is applied to two collaborations involving endangered species in the United States. Although traditional measures of compliance show little difference, the full framework finds a stark contrast in long-term problem-solving capacity. One case evinces high overall capacity, whereas the second case registers low, even diminished, capacity.

Collaboration, Enforcement, and Endangered Species: A Framework for Assessing Collaborative Problem-Solving Capacity

ABSTRACT The centrality of collaborative capacity to long-term problem-solving success in natural resource policy poses a critical challenge for social scientists. While the literature on antecedent capacity is relatively rich, there is virtually nothing in the literature related to collaborative capacity as an outcome—the idea of a collaborative capacity assessment framework. What criteria help us understand whether long-term, collaborative problem-solving capacity is enhanced, stays the same, or is diminished? Our framework develops capacity outcomes along multiple dimensions—the vertical, the horizontal, and the partnership linkages between the two—and is applied to collaborations involving endangered species. When the cases are measured along traditional vertical measures there is little difference; both register high rates of compliance. However, when assessed along all three dimensions of the framework, a stark contrast in long-term problem-solving capacity is evident. The Walla Walla case evinces high capacity overall, while the Methow Valley registers low, even diminished capacity.

This Isn’t CSI Estimating the National Backlog of Forensic DNA Cases and the Barriers Associated With Case Processing

The increasing application of forensic DNA analysis in the criminal justice system has led to considerable public debate. Such discussions typically center on either its use for identifying criminal offenders (and for exonerating those who have been wrongfully convicted) or legal questions concerning the proper scope of DNA evidence collection. Currently missing from these debates is an accurate estimate of the national backlog of cases that might benefit from the application of forensic DNA analysis. The authors estimate this backlog using data gathered from a nationally representative sample of local law enforcement agencies and from the total population of both state and local crime laboratories. The authors document the primary barriers identified by these agencies to the expanded use of forensic DNA analysis in the processing of criminal cases. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications for the continued support of and increased access to forensic DNA testing by law enforcement agencies.

PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION: ARE VOLUNTEERS MORE OR LESS FEARFUL OF CRIME THAN OTHER CITIZENS?

ABSTRACT Fear of crime is one of many quality of life issues that community crime prevention strategies have attempted to identify and address. Little is known, however, about the perceptions of fear of criminal victimization among citizens who volunteer in community crime prevention programs. This study assesses fear of violent crime and property crime victimization among 192 police volunteers and 421 general citizens, controlling for known correlates of fear of crime in the comparison. Multivariate regression analyses show that police volunteers fear violent crime victimization substantially more than general citizens. Likewise, police volunteers fear property victimization more than general citizens, however, the effect on fear of violent crime was markedly more robust than for property crime. The findings drawn from this study lend support to Pepinskis (1989) cautions concerning community crime prevention programs. Directions for future research are discussed.

Inter-agency collaborative approaches to endangered species act compliance and salmon recovery in the pacific northwest

We assessed attempts by federal and state agencies to utilize a Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) approach to address endangered species and natural resource protection issues in two watersheds in Washington State involving listed species of salmon, steelhead and bull trout. In the wake of the listing of these species, NOAA Fisheries and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) joined to implement a multi-party collaboration to enforcement termed Resource-Oriented Enforcement (ROE). We sought to determine if federal and state resource agencies can collaborate effectively and if collaborative approaches can achieve short- and long-term resource protection goals. A citizen mail survey (n=800+ in each location) and extensive personal interviews with key actors were conducted to assemble evidence on the degree of success achieved in implementing ROE. Observed results suggest that collaboration can

Fiscal Implications of City-City Consolidations

There is a rich literature on the fiscal implications of municipal consolidations. Almost all of it is focused on city–county consolidations. City–city consolidations, although rare, are an even better setting to test the claim that municipal consolidation reduces local government taxing and spending. We examine this claim with data from six city–city consolidations since 1985. We find that, in fact, most city–city consolidations result in higher taxing and higher spending on core operations and salaries. Consolidation produced lower overall spending in three of the six jurisdictions, but mostly because it was accompanied by lower intergovernmental revenues and changes in debt management. All this suggests the economic theory of consolidation would be more salient if it considered a broader array of benefits and costs that are not directly reflected in tax and spending rates.

Are Block Watch volunteers different than volunteers in community-oriented policing programs? Findings from a mature COPS setting

A number of studies have examined the correlates of citizen volunteerism in crime prevention programs, but few studies have systematically compared volunteers in Block Watch and community-oriented policing (COP) programs. This study has two goals. First, this study evaluates the impact that a number of theoretically hypothesized factors have on citizen volunteerism in crime prevention programs, and second, assesses whether the determinants of citizen volunteerism in Block Watch programs differ from COP programs. Results from an urban Western city (n = 850) show that race, victimization, and positive attitudes toward the police are significant predictors of citizen participation in COP programs. Whereas income and perceptions of inadequate police services are significant predictors of citizen participation in Block Watch programs. Contrary to other findings in the literature fear of crime and social cohesion were not significantly associated with participation in either program.

Communities Ready for Takeoff: Integrating Social Assets for Biofuel Site-Selection Modeling

Abstract. Although much of the social science literature supports the importance of community assets for success in many policy areas, these assets are often overlooked when selecting communities for new infrastructure facilities. Extensive collaboration is crucial for the success of environmental and economic projects, yet it often is not adequately addressed when making siting decisions for new projects. This article develops a social asset framework that includes social, creative, and human capital to inform site-selection decisions. This framework is applied to the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance project to assess community suitability for biofuel-related developments. This framework is the first to take all necessary community assets into account, providing insight into successful site selection beyond current models. The framework not only serves as a model for future biorefinery projects but also guides tasks that depend on informed location selection for success.

Civilizing Surveillance Practices: The Pullman Police Department Public Safety Camera Monitoring Internship Program

ABSTRACT This article provides background, insight and an assessment of the challenges and benefits of using college student interns to monitor public safety cameras. Based on one element of a strong partnership between the Pullman (WA) Police Department and Washington State University, this descriptive study focuses on the formation of a student internship program to monitor public safety cameras in a high-disorder area to enhance crime prevention, police response capacity, and public safety. This effort has been underway for over2 years, and illustrates the positive outcomes for public safety that can result from effective practitioner/academic collaborations.