Dallas Cuts Crime with Hot Spot Policing

Policement walkingPhoto byImage by Rhonde Grice and Dall-e3

Big cities usually have more crime simply because there are more people. Dallas Texas is no different, but over the past three years they have been seeing a decline in violent crime due to what they call hot spot policing.

The largest decline was this past year when Dallas violent crime rates dropped 30% over the year before.

According to an interview in “On Point”, non police officials, like Alexis Piquero and Antong Lucky help to make this decline in violence happen.

Alexis Piquero is a professor of criminology at the University of Miami, and former director of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Antong Lucky is president and CEO of Urban Specialists. Antong Lucky knows how crime can produce hardships for a city and for families. In the interview he admits to being sent to prison when young. He made sure he would do all he could to help make changes and that's what he has done!

The hot spot policing is not favored by some people, especially other states that have tried it, but in Dallas it's working extremely well.

Dallas police put together a task force with strategies that could be presented to the mayor. Some of these resources and strategies include Cleaning and greening and teaching kids self-control. While non-profit organizations are working on this end, the police force crafted out some crime prevention strategies.

Statistics of crime are regularly being reviewed and high crime areas are pinpointed as hot spot policing areas. In some instances it might be a particular store, or even a certain city block.

Police move around to different hot spot areas so the criminals won't know exactly where they are going to be next.

A hot spot area does have increased police presence with uniformed officers, but it also has non uniformed police in the area that are undercover! Dallas police believe using both types of officers can give them the element of surprise on their side.

The cleaning and greening part of the program gives people things to do that they can feel proud of. They are part of making an environment that is attractive and where people feel safe!

The program is all about working with the community, not to the community. Every person and child deserves a happy and safe place to grow up!

A big hand clap goes to the City of Dallas, Texas!

Citations: How Dallas tackled violent crime | On Point (wbur.org)