Law Homework Help

1- The SARA model is essentially a rational method to systematically identify and analyze problems, develop specific responses to individual problems, and subsequently assess whether the response has been successful (Burton and McGregor, 2018). The scanning step includes identifying recurring problems of concern to both the public and the police, prioritizing those problems, and selecting issues for closer examination (Boba Santos, 2017). When a problem is selected, the scanning step includes confirming that the problem exists, determining the frequency the problem occurs, the length the problem has taken place, and identifying the consequences of the problem (Boba Santos, 2017). During this process, an analyst will examine the relevant data that is available within their police agency.

During this scan phase, it is essential to acknowledge the potential issues, recognizing trends, and any other related assaults that warrant further observation of the current issue (Porter, 2013). The information gathered must be determined and confirmed that a specific problem is affecting the community (Porter, 2013). This will be obtained by crime reports, calls for service on the particular crime, and any arrest. The purpose is to find out what is occurring that can be dictated by the environments in which it occurs and the type of behaviors connected with it. The environment will regulate the target areas available; the activities individuals engage in, and the location that someone controls. When the scanning process is conducted, an issue will be confirmed, with further analysis of the problem can be administered to find particular patterns and trends.

References:

Boba Santos, R. (2017). Crime analysis and crime mapping (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN-13: 9781506331034

Burton, Steve. & McGregor, Mandy. (2018). Enhancing SARA: a new approach in an increasingly complex world. Crime Science, 7(1), 1–5. https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1186/s40163-…

Porter, L. E. (2013). Beyond ‘oversight’: a problem-oriented approach to police reform. Police Practice & Research, 14(2), 169–181.

2- A very useful tool that law enforcement and analysts use to reduce crime is the SARA model. This model works by identifying and responding to long term policing problems (Santos, 2017). The four steps in this model are Scanning, Analyzing, Responding, and Assessing. The scanning process refers to the first step of this model.

Scanning is the step of defining specific crime problems (Santos, 2017). First, the problem is selected. Then, the analyst has to validate the problem and assess whether or not it is an actual, legitimate problem. If it is, an analyst then has to determine how often the crime problem is taking and and how long this problem has been around for. Then, the analyst has to see what consequences or what things happening as a result of this problem. During this step, all data is analyzed. This step involves investigating the nature of the crime to understand what is happening, not why something is happening (the why can only be answered once everything about the crime is known, therefore this question is answered on a different step of SARA). Part of this step involves finding out in what types of environment the crime problem is happening and what type of behavior is associated with this problem.

SARA is still a fairly new process, but it has been found to be highly effective at reducing crime. According to Hinkle (2017), law enforcement agencies who use this model see an average of 33.8% reduction of crime (specifically the crime related to the crime problem). However, this model is still evolving. In 2017, a ream in London was trying to see how they could further enhance the SARA model and they ended up adding extra steps. Among these extra sets, the team added an extra step to the Scanning Process. The Scanning Process now consisted of 2 steps: Scanning and Prioritizing (Burton, 2018). This new second part of scanning consists in mainly prioritizing resources to analyze the problem while taking into consideration the impact of different factors on the crime problem (Burton, 2018). This is still a new addition, but I believe it can definitely enhance the crime reduction results of the SARA model, especially when it comes to finding out the nature of the crime problem because it can provide more information as to what exactly is happening. This can help analysts understand even more about a crime problem.

Arizona State University. (n.d.). The SARA Model. ASU Center for Problem Oriented Policing. Retrieved from https://popcenter.asu.edu/content/sara-model-0.

Burton, S., McGregor, M. (2018). Enhancing SARA: a new approach in an increasingly complex world. Crime Sci. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40163-018-0078-4.

Hinkle, J. C., Weisburd, D., W. Telep, C. W., & Petersen, K. (2020). Problem‐oriented policing for reducing crime and disorder: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16(2). https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/cl2.108…

Santos, R. (2017). Crime analysis with crime mapping (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN-13: 9781506331034

3- The scanning process in the SARA model is the initial step of analyzing a crime problem to figure out an effective problem(s) response or responses. This is where crime analysts decide what information they are going to evaluate and put together for police personnel that would be important and useful for their crime responses (Santos, 2017). The goal of the scanning process is for crime analysts to find out how many times the problem actually occurs, how long its been happening for, and what is taking place as an aftermath because of these problems (Santos, 2017). An example of the scanning process is when a police agency notices an increase in drug-related crime in their jurisdiction, this is a problem that needs to be prioritized and a solution made to decrease the drug-related crime before it becomes out of control to the point where it will take decades to fix (Hinkle, Weisburd, Telep, Petersen, 2020).

Being able to identify that there is an issue or problem at hand with certain crimes or jurisdictions based off of incoming reporting, through records management systems, such as COMPSTAT, is seriously important and a time sensitive matter. It proves The scanning process determines the nature of the problem and its complexities (Sabel & Simon, 2016). If these crime increases are not determined right away, the problem at hand could turn out very serious and could amount to a crime epidemic. The issues need to be handled right away as soon as a trend is spotted, therefore the analysis of why the issue is happening can be researched, a plan can be implemented, and then an assessment can be made whether or not the response program worked. To implement the SARA model takes time and if the assessment shows there was no positive result or decline in crime trend, its back to the drawing board which takes more time.

References

Hinkle, J.C., Weisburd, D., Telep, C.W., & Petersen, K. (2020). Problem‐oriented policing for reducing crime and disorder: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16(2). https://doi-org.lopes.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/cl2.108…

Sabel, C. F., & Simon, W. H. (2016). The Duty of Responsible Administration and the Problem of Police Accountability. Yale Journal on Regulation, 33(1), 165–211.

Santos, R. (2017). Crime analysis with crime mapping (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN-13: 9781506331034

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