Showing 1 – 3 of 3 results.
Curated
Spouse Abuse Replication Project in Metro-Dade County, Florida, 1987-1989 (ICPSR 6008)
Released/updated on: 2006-03-30
Geographic coverage: United States, Florida
Time period: 1987-08-01--1989-01-31
The Metro-Dade project replicated an earlier study of domestic violence, the Minneapolis Domestic Violence Experiment (SPECIFIC DETERRENT EFFECTS OF ARREST FOR DOMESTIC ASSAULT: MINNEAPOLIS, 1981-1982 [ICPSR 8250]), which was conducted by the Police Foundation with a grant from the National Institute of Justice. The Metro-Dade study employed a research design that tested the relative effectiveness of various combinations of treatments that were randomly assigned in two stages. Initially, eligible spouse battery cases were assigned to either an arrest or a nonarrest condition. Later, cases were assigned either to receive or not to receive a follow-up investigation and victim counseling from a detective working with the Safe Streets Unit (SSU), a unit that deals specifically with domestic violence. Given the various treatment conditions employed, three types of dependent variables were examined: (1) prevalence--the proportion of suspects who engaged in repeat incidents, (2) incidence--the frequency with which repeat incidents occurred, and (3) "time to failure"--the interval between the presenting incident and subsequent incidents. Initial interviews were conducted with victims soon after the presenting incident, and follow-up interviews were attempted six months later. The interviews were conducted in either English or Spanish. The interview questions requested detailed background information about the suspect, victim, and any family members living with the victim at the time of the interview, including age, gender, and marital and employment status. Parallel sets of employment and education questions were asked about the victim and the suspect. Additionally, the interview questionnaire was designed to collect information on (1) the history of the victim's relationship with the suspect, (2) the nature of the presenting incident, including physical violence, property damage, and threats, (3) causes of the presenting incident, including the use of alcohol and drugs by both the victim and the offender, (4) actions taken by the police when they arrived on the scene, (5) the victim's evaluation of the services rendered by the police on the scene, (6) the nature of the follow-up contact by a detective from the Safe Street Unit and an evaluation of the services provided, (7) the victim's history of abuse by the offender, and (8) the nature of subsequent abuse since the presenting incident. Data for Parts 1 and 2 are self-reported data, obtained from interviews with victims. Part 4 consists of data recorded on Domestic Violence Continuation Report forms, indicating subsequent assaults or domestic disputes, and Part 5 contains criminal history data on suspects from arrest reports, indicating a subsequent arrest. The police report of the incident and information on the type of randomized treatment assigned to each case is given in Part 6.
Curated
Reducing Fear of Crime: Program Evaluation Surveys in Newark and Houston, 1983-1984 (ICPSR 8496)
Released/updated on: 2006-03-30
Time period: 1983-01-01--1984-12-31
Households and establishments in seven neighborhoods in Houston, Texas, and Newark, New Jersey, were surveyed to determine the extent of victimization experiences and crime prevention measures in these areas. Citizens' attitudes toward the police were also examined. Baseline data were collected to determine residents' perceptions of crime, victimization experiences, crime-avoidance behavior, and level of satisfaction with the quality of life in their neighborhoods (Parts 1 and 3). Follow-up surveys were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of experimental police programs designed to reduce the fear of crime within the communities. These results are presented in Parts 2 and 4. In Part 5, questions similar to those in the baseline survey were posed to two groups of victims who reported crimes to the police. One group had received a follow-up call to provide the victim with information, assistance, and reassurance that someone cared, and the other was a control group of victims that had not received a follow-up call. Part 6 contains data from a newsletter experiment conducted by the police departments after the baseline data were gathered, in one area each of Houston and Newark. Two versions of an anti-crime newsletter were mailed to respondents to the baseline survey and also to nonrespondents living in the area. These groups were then interviewed, along with control groups of baseline respondents and nonrespondents who might have seen the newsletter but were not selected for the mailing. Demographic data collected include age, sex, race, education and employment.
Curated
Evaluation of the New York City Police Cadet Corps, 1986-1989 (ICPSR 9980)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-12
Geographic coverage: New York City, United States, New York (state)
Time period: 1986-01-01--1989-12-31
The purpose of this study was to examine whether the Police Cadet Corps program in New York City had achieved its goal of improving the police force through additional training of applicants with higher education. The evaluation of the program was designed to answer questions such as (1) How was the program recruitment implemented, and with what success? (2) What were the role-related perceptions and attitudes of the cadets and how did they differ, if at all, among different types of cadets and from those of the members of the latest recruit class? (3) How, if at all, did the program experience affect the cadets' perceptions and attitudes? and (4) How did the attitudes and perceptions of cadets compare to non-cadet recruits with and without some college education in the same academy class? Four cohorts of cadets were asked to complete several different questionnaires throughout the course of the program, which culminated in graduation from the police academy. Two sets of non-cadet recruits from the academy were also included in the research. Major variables in the data collection detail reasons for entry into the police department, opinions regarding police, and perceptions and attitudes toward the police cadet program. Some questionnaires also provided information on demographic characteristics of the cadets (race, sex, marital status, military service and branch, highest level of education, family income, and year of birth). The unit of observation is the New York City police cadet.