SARA Model: Center For Problem Oriented Policing

“Community policing is, in essence, a collaboration between the police and the community that identifies and solves community problems” (U.S. Department of Justice, 1994, p. vii). Throughout the years, community policing has become a more popular strategy to help law enforcement officials control and deter crime; however, some areas across the United States has had problems in the past with communities and law enforcement working together to ensure a secure and safe environment. Although it is an officer’s duty to maintain order, keep the peace, and solve problems within the area he or she

Moreover, community policing has opened the door to a more victim oriented approach within law enforcement where law enforcement agencies are more consumer centered and user friendly (Karmen, 2016). If I were an advocate for victims, tasked with implementing victim oriented services for a law enforcement agency, I would include report taking over the phone or internet, training, a victim advocacy unit, clearance rates for detectives, and a customer satisfaction survey. Below is how my checklist would appear (Karmen, 2016).

Many policing agencies have found this approach to be helpful. Agencies that were involved noted that specific community concerns had been addressed, overall reductions in crime had occurred, or community members had become less fearful as a result of the police interventions. Relevant problems will normally surface as issues brought to the attention of the police.

Law Enforcement officers have one of the most critical jobs in the United States. Their lives are always on the line and they are of high regards. This means they cannot fail! The results of their jobs do not only depend on their actions but also on the people. What this means is the community has a huge role when it comes to solving crime. Though many people may not believe it, they are the key to a successful crime prevention community. The people of the United States don’t really understand both the positive and negative effects that community policing actually brings. Some may say it is very dangerous based on their experiences. Others may say it’s the best way to do away with crime. Today the two will be compared and put to test by true officers serving our country. The facts will be stated and questions will be answered. Let’s take a look at what community policing is really all about!

The Broken Windows theory predicts that police can most effectively fight crime by focusing their efforts on targeting disorder, minor crimes and nuisance behaviors. The theory has had a positive impact, but has also raised some challenges. The police can play a key role in disrupting this process. If they focus in on disorder and less serious crime in neighborhoods that have not yet been overtaken by serious crime, they can help reduce fear and resident withdrawal.

The first stage of the SARA model is scanning. Scanning means to identify the problem. “A problem is a set of harmful event in a community that people expect the police to address”. (Clark & Eck, 2014). Before we can develop a solution, first they need to have a problem to solve. Therefore when working on scanning, it is important for the police to find out the consequences of the problem and also how often this problem does happens. “There are six required elements of a problem in a community”. (Clark & Eck, 2014). The six elements include

Problem oriented policing is geared toward solving problems. The first step in problem oriented policing is the identification and selection of a problem. One method of identifying, analyzing and selecting a problem is known as SARA. The acronym SARA stands for scanning, analysis, response, and assessment (Cronkhite, 2013). The Center for Problem Oriented Policing has several problem-specific guides for different problems that police and a community may face. The guides cover a variety of subjects ranging from burglary to gas drive offs. Each guide discusses the problem and factors involved and offers suggestions derived from police report and research of the problem (Center for Problem-Oriented Policing, n.d.).

Problem oriented policing is described as a policing strategy that involves the identification and analysis of specific crime and disorder problems, to develop effective response strategies.

“Crime analysis has been defined as “a set of systematic, analytical process providing timely and pertinent information to assist operational and administrative personnel” (Peak, 2015, pp. 200). Also, there is “one tool that could be used for analyzing problems is the “problem-analysis triangle,” in which helps police officers visualize the problem and understand the relationship between the three elements of the triangle” (Peak, 2015, pp. 200). The three elements would be: “an offender: someone who is motivated to commit harmful behavior, a victim: a desirable and vulnerable target, and a location: although the victim and offender are not always in the same place at the same time; locations is discussed later” (Peak, 2015, pp. 200). Basically, this is the stage where law enforcement officials conclude to factor or issues that could be producing the crimes to take

In other words, proactive policing means that police will take action into their own hands to create strategies and establish data about crime to minimize crime (Birzer & Roberson, 2014). The textbook continues to state examples of how proactive policing is used effectively. With this method the police use’s intelligence information, such as specialized policing units. In addition, proactive policing predominantly exercises directed patrolling which is “a strategy where police officers are assigned to patrol and give attention to specific problem areas that are identified through problem or crime analysis” (Birzer & Roberson, 2014). For example, if there is a specific location in a community that has a high rate of drug trafficking, police officers will be assigned to that area to observe and create solution particularly for drug trafficking.

Problem oriented policing is a method of policing designed to focus on areas of increased criminal activity or hot spots. This method is executed by analyzing crime data, searching for solutions, implementing policies, and deploying resources which results in a reduction of crime. Herman Goldstein, a professor at University of Wisconsin- Madison, developed this method in 1979. This method of policing is one of the most widely used and accepted techniques used in policing today (Weisburb, Telep, Hinckle, and Eck, 2010).

Many of the experiments did not last very long, but ideas that were associated with neighborhood and team policing brought forth influence of how the police were able to provide safety and security to communities in the urban areas. This also allowed them to maintain support and confidence from the community. From the early days, community oriented policing and problem-oriented policing increased in police thought and practice and have widely spread as both the foundation for

To begin, it is necessary to explicate the concept of a policing model, in order to better contextualize this discussion of community-oriented and problem-solving models in particular. Policing models are used by researchers and police departments alike in order to describe the complex set of motivations, intentions, and strategies used to determine policing policy. Police models "are central entities of thoughts and ideas on policing," and for the most part

Scanning is the first step in the SARA model, scanning identifies recurring problems of concerns to the public and the police and consequences as well. It also prioritize those problems, develops broad goals, and determines how frequently the problem occurs. The second step to the SARA model is the analysis which, identifies and understands the events and conditions that precede and accompany the problem. The analysis also identifies relevant data that can be collected, takes a closer look as to which problem type it is, understanding how the problem was approached a certain way, and developing a hypothesis as to why the problem occurred. The third step to the SARA model is the response which is brainstorming, searching for other communities that may have the same problem, outlining a plan, and identifying responsible parties. Lastly the fourth step in the SARA model is the assessment which focuses on determining whether the plan was implemented, collecting pre and post response qualitative and quantitative data, identifying new

affects neighborhoods, communities or cites on a whole. This requires the police to make a