Eli B. Silverman

In the last five years, New York City has experienced the nation's most dramatic reduction in crime. While the New York Police Department is receiving extensive publicity and praise as the key agent for the sharp decline, many experts downplay the NYPD's role, arguing instead that prevailing social, economic, and demographic conditions are the primary reasons for the unprecedented drop in crime rates. This timely book informs the debate by detailing how innovative strategies adopted in 1994 by then-police commissioner William Bratton had the immediate and sustained effect of lowering incidents of crime in every city precinct. Eli B. Silverman begins his study with a historical review of the evolution of police reform movements in New York City, showing that the achievements and failures of earlier external and internal initiatives formed the foundation for today's re-engineered NYPD. Drawing on privileged access to police documents and meetings, he then examines how the dynamic interaction of specific strategic, organizational, and managerial changes redefined the approach to policing, transforming the department from a reactive to a proactive force. In particular, Silverman focuses on Compstat, a sophisticated computer program that compiles crime statistics, as the crucial mechanism for linking the development of new policies with effective tactics to control crime. The up-to-date and accurate information provided by Compstat drives twice-weekly crime strategy meetings that ensure essential planning, coordination, evaluation, and accountability. NYPD Battles Crime is a fascinating story of organizational change, innovation, and continuity.

Innovative Strategies in Policing

NYPD Battles Crime

Arvind Verma

John Eterno

This edited collection illuminates the weaknesses and strengths of crime reporting across a wide range of countries, with a focus on democratic countries in which the police bear some accountability to citizens. In one compendium, for the first time, this book documents how different countries record (or fail to record) crimes. With chapters written by native authors who are experts on the practices of their respective countries, the book explores practices in 15 different countries across the globe. Organized with a parallel, country-by-country approach, the book describes and analyzes methods police use to record crimes, with awareness that the counting of crimes is not only an issue of empirical measurement, but also one of social construction. Crime reporting practices vary widely by country. In some cases, reports are not taken, and in others, reports are carefully based on preliminary investigations. Willful manipulation of crime reports can and does occur, and the book explores related factors such as political pressure, personal ambition, community safety, and more. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter help the reader evaluate the significant issues influencing each country. The editors conclude by suggesting for best practices for crime reporting and the collection of crime data. A unique addition to this book is a foreword by Tofiq Murshudlu, the Head of Drugs and Crime for the United Nations in Vienna. The book is intended for a wide range of audiences, including policing scholars, law enforcement and community leaders, and students of criminal justice.

An Exercise in Police Discretion

How Countries Count Crime

John A. Eterno

This edited collection illuminates the weaknesses and strengths of crime reporting across a wide range of countries, with a focus on democratic countries in which the police bear some accountability to citizens. In one compendium, for the first time, this book documents how different countries record (or fail to record) crimes. With chapters written by native authors who are experts on the practices of their respective countries, the book explores practices in 15 different countries across the globe. Organized with a parallel, country-by-country approach, the book describes and analyzes methods police use to record crimes, with the awareness that the counting of crimes is not only an issue of empirical measurement, but also one of social construction. Crime reporting practices vary widely by country. In some cases, reports are not taken, and in others, reports are carefully based on preliminary investigations. Willful manipulation of crime reports can and does occur, and the book explores related factors such as political pressure, personal ambition, community safety, and more. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter help the reader evaluate the significant issues influencing each country. The editors conclude by suggesting best practices for crime reporting and the collection of crime data. A unique addition to this book is a foreword by Tofiq Murshudlu, the Head of Drugs and Crime for the United Nations in Vienna. The book is intended for a wide range of audiences, including policing scholars, law enforcement and community leaders, and students of criminal justice.

Analyzes the New York City Police Department's (NYPD) high-tech crime fighting strategy, Compstat, and examines 25 years of change and leadership at NYPD, revealing that the Compstat crime control process is not an instant organizational turnaround but instead is the result of a gradual process of organizational change and leadership redirection. Of interest to students of policing and organizational management. Silverman is a professor of law, police science, and criminal justice administration at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.

In the mid-1990s, the NYPD created a performance management strategy known as Compstat. It consisted of computerized data, crime analysis, and advanced crime mapping coupled with middle management accountability and crime strategy meetings with high-ranking decision makers. While initially credited with a dramatic reduction in crime, questions quic

Eli B. Silverman

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