THE EFFECTS OF DIRECTED PATROL AND SELF‐INITIATED ENFORCEMENT ON FIREARM VIOLENCE: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF HOT SPOT POLICING
Abstract
Targeted policing has proven effective in reducing serious crime in areas where it is highly concentrated, but the enforcement mechanisms responsible for the success of so‐called hot spots strategies remain poorly understood. This study evaluates the effects of a 9‐month randomized controlled hot spots field experiment on firearm assaults and robberies in St. Louis, Missouri. Thirty‐two firearm violence hot spots were randomly allocated to two treatment conditions and a control condition. Directed patrols were increased in both treatment conditions, whereas the experimental protocol limited other enforcement activity in one of the treatment conditions and increased it in the other. The results from difference‐in‐difference regression analyses indicate that the intervention substantially reduced the incidence of nondomestic firearm assaults, with no evident crime displacement to surrounding areas, to times when the intervention was not active, or to nonfirearm assaults. By contrast, we find no effects of the intervention on firearm robberies. Less definitive results suggest that the certainty of arrests and occupied vehicle checks account for the treatment effects on nondomestic firearm assaults.
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For the St. Louis Metro PD's Firearms Violence Hot Spots Policing Experiment (Rosenfeld et al., 2014), there was limited difference in treatment between patrol without self-initiated enforcement activity and the control condition.
“Limited difference in treatment between patrol without self‐initiated enforcement activity and the control condition”
From Hot spots policing of small geographic areas effects on crime (2019) · cites this paper as Rosenfeld et al. (2014)
In the St. Louis Gun Violence Hot Spots experiment, the directed patrol with self-initiated activity treatment was implemented with strong fidelity, but the fidelity for directed patrol without self-initiated activity was limited.
“Finally, in the St. Louis Gun Violence Hot Spots experiment, Rosenfeld et al. (2014) noted that although the directed patrol with self‐initiated activity treatment was implemented with strong fidelity, the fidelity for directed patrol without self‐initiated activity was limited.”
From Hot spots policing of small geographic areas effects on crime (2019) · cites this paper as Rosenfeld et al., 2014
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- Authors
- ROSENFELD, R., DECKARD, M. J., & BLACKBURN, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Missouri–St. Louis (US)
- St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
- Corresponding author
- ROSENFELD, RICHARD
- Venue
- Criminology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-06-27
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 428-449
- ISSN
- 0011-1384 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-9125
- OpenAlex
- W2105085708
- Cited by
- 148
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 33 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 11.92
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Criminology (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Justice (2012-IJ-CX-0042)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Gun Ownership and Violence Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
- Keywords
- hot spot policing, gun violence, firearm assault, crime displacement, traffic stops, targeted policing, St. Louis
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