Minneapolis (MN) Hot Spots Experiment
Axios
Policing
Problems addressed
Disorder and disturbance (or breach) of the peace
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Effectiveness

Mixed Evidence

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Mixed Evidence

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Life periods served
People of all ages
Where the program was applied
Community (streets or community centers)
Commercial establishments or stores
Country of application
United States
Description

This is an experiment carried out by the police to formulate strategies and address the problems associated with repeated emergency calls in specific areas of the city.
Four police officers and a sergeant selected 250 experimental regions to carry out any legal tactics available to solve the problems in the regions, including the dissemination of information, persuasion, coercion, and limited legal action.

Impact evaluations

Impact assessment studies have shown mixed effects. The first found no reduction in police calls at commercial or residential addresses. Statistically significant reductions were only found at residential addresses that received a low level of police effort (i.e., less problematic locations) [1]. The second found a statistically significant reduction in citizen calls to the police and in disorder observed at the hot spots treated by the program [2].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Buerger, M. E. (1993). Convincing the recalcitrant: Reexamining the Minneapolis RECAP experiment (Doctoral dissertation, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey-Newark).

[2] Sherman, L. W., & Weisburd, D. (1995). General deterrent effects of police patrol in crime “hot spots”: A randomized, controlled trial. Justice quarterly, 12(4), 625-648.

Information source