Community-oriented policing focuses on problem-solving. This assignment encourages students to identify policing strategies  for  solving  crime-related  problems  in  their  communities.  Students  must  (i)  identify  a  specific  crime  or crime-related problem in the greater San Diego area, (ii) propose a specific police strategy to address the problem,(iii) explain why the proposed strategy should be effective, and (iv) discuss any constitutional issues or community relations issues that might result from the implementation of the proposed strategy.

Specific  crime-related  problem  (15  points):  Students  must  describe  a  specific  crime  or  crime-related
problem (e.g., graffiti/vandalism, drug use on college campuses, or used drug needles in playground areas)
as well as a description of where the problem is occurring and who it is affecting.  Students must provide a
factual basis for the existence of the problem by referencing: (i) use of crime statistics for the San Diego
area; (ii) newspaper articles or media reports describing multiple criminal incidents; AND/OR (iii) telephone
or  Zoom  interviews  with  local  law  enforcement  personnel,  residents  or  representatives  of  community
organizations. Due to the social distancing guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, students are discouraged
from conducting in-person interviews.

Proposed  policing  strategy  (15  points):  Students  must  identify  a  specific  policing  strategy  (e.g.,  directed
patrols,  zero  tolerance  policing,  predictive  policing,  safety  checks,  strategic  partnership  with  community
organization) and explain how the strategy is designed to address the identified problem.

Explanation  and  Measurement  of  Effectiveness  (30  points):  Consistent  with  evidence-based  policing,
students  must  (i)  identify  research  (i.e.,  peer-reviewed  research  articles  or  successful  case  studies)  that
support the likelihood of success of the proposed policing strategy, and (ii) describe how the effectiveness
of the strategy will be measured and evaluated.

Constitutional/Community Relations Issues (10 points): Students must (i) anticipate any constitutional/community relations issues that might arise from implementation of the proposed strategy, and (ii) explain how those concerns will be addressed.