CHAPTER 4: PROBLEM SOLVING: PROACTIVE POLICING
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is not a basic element in a problem-solving approach?
a.
grouping incidents as problems
b.
adopting a reactive stance
c.
seeking the ultimate goal of effectiveness
d.
focusing on substantive problems as the heart of policing
2. Problem-solving policing requires police to:
a.
group incidents.
b.
identify underlying causes
c.
both a and b
d.
neither a nor b of problems.
3. A departmental-wide strategy aimed at solving persistent community problems is called:
a.
community-wide policing.
b.
reactive policing.
c.
the SARA model.
d.
problem-oriented policing.
4. The first step in problem-oriented policing is:
a.
studying all possible responses to incidents.
b.
efficient handling of calls.
c.
staffing all squad cars with two officers.
d.
grouping incidents as problems.
5. Which of the following is not one of the four stages of the SARA problem-solving model?
a.
scanning
b.
analysis
c.
reporting
d.
assessment
6. According to the text, neighborhood theories and street theories are examples of:
a.
hot-spot theories.
b.
theories of differential association
c.
routine activities theory.
d.
classical school theories.
7. According to the text, some practitioners view community policing and problem–oriented policing as
two:
a.
short-term solutions.
b.
long-term solutions.
c.
opposing approaches.
d.
definite approaches to policing.
8. Problem solving is based on the belief that patterns and trends can be discovered that reflect the causes
of the problem. The five principles of analysis include all of the following except:
a.
individual problems require individual analysis.
b.
analysis does not need to be complex.
c.
analysis is based on common sense.
d.
there is one way to do the analysis.
9. The first step in analysis, determining what information is needed, should:
a.
be guided by past perspectives.
b.
ask whether or not answers can be obtained.
c.
ask questions that lead to tangible results.
d.
be skipped if the nature of the problem seems obvious.
10. Crime-specific planning involves all of the following except:
a.
the offense.
b.
the target.
c.
the community.
d.
the response.
11. The mission of the Problem-Oriented Policing Center is to advance the concept and -practice of:
a.
the SARA model.
b.
community-oriented policing.
c.
problem-oriented policing.
d.
traditional policing.
12. Eck suggests several nontraditional measures that indicate if a problem has been affected by the
intervention and include all of the following except:
a.
reduced instances of repeat victimization.
b.
reduced citizen fear related to the problem.
c.
decreased citizen satisfaction.
d.
increased profits for legitimate businesses in the target area.
13. Recent research on residential burglary in England has shown:
a.
that victims were more likely than nonvictims to be victimized again.
b.
that victims were not more likely than nonvictims to be victimized again.
c.
that prior victimization had no impact on predicting future revictimization.
d.
that interventions targeted at repeat victims resulted in displacement.
14. Which of the following would not be used in an impact evaluation?
a.
reduced instances of repeat victimization
b.
decreases in related crimes or incidents
c.
reduced citizen fear
d.
the conclusion that the response was implemented as planned
15. A problem-solving approach to policing was developed partially in response to concerns for:
a.
efficiency and effectiveness.
b.
effectiveness and synergy.
c.
efficiency and completeness.
d.
control and function.
16. In the DOC model, the “C” stands for:
a.
community.
b.
consequences.
c.
crime.
d.
conflict.
17. According to the text, community policing focuses on:
a.
efficiency.
b.
doing things right.
c.
effectiveness.
d.
both a and b
18. The least-effort principle proposes that:
a.
criminals tend to commit crimes near but not too close to their residence.
b.
criminals tend to target victims who offer the least resistance.
c.
criminals tend to target areas near major roads that offer escape routes.
d.
criminals tend to be lazy.
19. According to the text, crime-specific planning is a more precise strategy than:
a.
reactive policing.
b.
POP
c.
community policing.
d.
categorized response.
20. Crime mapping focuses on:
a.
the criminal.
b.
the location of crimes.
c.
the victim.
d.
the police response
21. Community-oriented policing means changing the daily work of the police to include -investigating
problems as well as incidents. It means:
a.
targeting past problems.
b.
focusing on future problems.
c.
working with the bad guys and not just the good guys.
d.
working with the good guys and not just against the bad guys.
22. A community includes all of the following except:
a.
individuals.
b.
businesses.
c.
government.
d.
All of the above are examples of a community.
23. The primary work unit in the professional model of policing is the:
a.
citizen concern.
b.
criminal issue.
c.
organizational value.
d.
incident.
24. Using the SARA model, the final step in problem solving is:
a.
assessment.
b.
analysis.
c.
arbitration.
d.
assistance.
25. In crime-specific planning, the response is the responsibility of the:
a.
criminal justice system..
b.
community.
c.
victim
d.
all of the above
26. Problem-oriented policing places a high value on new processes that:
a.
are not dependent on the criminal justice system.
b.
are dependent on the criminal justice system.
c.
focus directly on the community.
d.
enable law enforcement to assist communities with their specific problems.
27. According to the text, the definition of a problem draws attention to six required elements of a
problem. The acronym is:
a.
PEEPER.
b.
CHEERS.
c.
SARA.
d.
HUDDLE
28. The problem analysis triangle includes all of the following except:
a.
likely offenders.
b.
likely victims.
c.
suitable targets.
d.
time and space.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The text suggests the police department must increase police officers’ freedom to make or participate
in important decisions.
2. Efficiency is doing the right things to produce a desired result.
3. Crime-specific planning uses the principles of problem solving to focus on identified crime problems.
4. As defined in the text, qualitative data examines the amount of change as the result of the response.
5. The text states that during problem solving and decision making, it is important to deal with symptoms
rather than causes.
6. Technology has become an indispensable tool for law enforcement.
7. Events, as defined by the text, must be discrete, describable incidents.
8. The emphasis in community policing is efficiency.
9. According to the text, minimizing waste, expense, or unnecessary effort is effectiveness.
10. CompStat is viewed by all law enforcement agencies as effective and ethical.
11. Process evaluation determines if the response was implemented as planned.
12. The first step in problem-oriented policing is to move beyond just handling incidents. It calls for
recognizing that incidents are often merely overt symptoms of problems.
13. Crime mapping changes the focus from the criminal to the location of the crimes.
14. According to the text, if a police officer is the mediator in a dispute, mediation may only result in a
short-term solution.
15. The most prevalent law enforcement response to identified problems is generally increased use of
conventional strategies such as enforcement and patrol.
16. In addressing public safety issues such as traffic crashes, hot spot mapping is often used.
17. The magnet phenomenon occurs when a phone number or address is associated with a crime simply
because it was a convenient number or address to use.
18. In the DOC model, the “D” stands for discretion.
19. Qualitative data examines excellence of the response.
20. Quantitative data examines the amount of change as a result of the response.
21. When using alternative dispute resolution techniques, the mediator guides the parties -involved to
resolve the dispute as he or she would want it solved.
22. In some cases, problem solving and crime-specific planning are not better options and -problems
should always be solved with mediation.
SHORT ANSWER
1. The originator of the problem-oriented policing concept is _____________.
2. Using the SARA model, the step that involves learning the problem’s causes, scope, and -effects is
_______________.
3. In the DOC model, DOC stands for ______________, _____________ and _____________.
4. _____________________________ is approaching criminal justice problems by considering the
underlying problems that are categorized by the type of offense.
5. ______________ calculates probabilities of a suspect’s residence based on the locations of past
crimes.
6. Crime mapping changes the focus from the criminal to the location of crimes—the ______________
where most crimes occur.
7. ______________ is the theory that successful implementation of a crime-reduction initiative does not
really prevent crime.
8. When discussing the SARA model, ______________ is acting to alleviate the problem.
9. ______________ is the concept proposing that criminals tend to commit acts of crimes within a
comfort zone located near but not too close to their residence.
10. The primary work unit in the professional model is the ______________—an isolated event that
requires police response.
11. According to the text, ______________ is sometimes called alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
ESSAY
1. Discuss the key elements of problem-oriented policing.
2. Mediation, sometimes called alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is shared problem solving by
parties in a dispute guided by a neutral person. Describe how police use this in problem solving.
3. Several theories exist about the concentration of crime and disorder and are used to -explain different
types of crime phenomena that occur at different geographic levels. List and -describe the various
crime hot spot theories.
4. Describe the four factors of crime-specific planning.
5. Discuss and give examples of how technology has become an indispensable tool for law enforcement.