Proactive Policing for Crime Control in America
Proactive actions reflect better on society than post-factum punishments. However, such an approach requires a specific strategy for each problem. For example, the case of underage drinkers requires deterring stores from breaking the law. Worrall (2018) states that a crackdown is a practical approach when it is necessary “to remove the criminal element” from a single area where it is known to be concentrated (p. 77). In the first case, liquor stores appear to play the role of the said element that needs to be removed. This strategy may be less effective against drug dens, yet stores have much more to lose when put under such pressure. Putting additional surveillance in the area and detecting a store selling alcohol to an underage individual must be sufficient to prevent others from doing so.
An increased incidence of burglaries indicates the need to act proactively as well, although a different method is required. Instead of responding to the already occurring thefts, police officers can perform directed patrol in the area by increasing traffic control, which will indicate that a police force has a heightened interest in said zone (Worrall, 2018). This approach can efficiently deter criminals from a particular area, and the impact leaves a lingering positive effect, as offenders will have to move to other sites.
The last issue with homeless people flooding the business district involves establishing contact with citizens for better cooperation. Foot patrols are an efficient method of decreasing vagrancy, yet it requires citizen reports to remain strictly on-point, as it tends to be wasteful in resources (Worrall, 2018). Giving people access to more straightforward reporting methods is a necessary step against this type of crime. In conclusion, each of the three issues can be efficiently targeted by proactive policing measures that will prevent said crime from appearing in its current form for a set period.
Reference
Worrall, J. L. (2018). Crime control in America: What works? (4th ed.). Pearson.