Curbing nuisance motels: an evaluation of police as place regulators

• Published in: Policing : an international journal of police strategies & management 2013-01, Vol.36 (2), p.437-462
• Main Authors: Bichler, Gisela, Schmerler, Karin, Enriquez, Janet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior; Budgets; City ordinances; Crime; Crime prevention; Displacement; Hotels & motels; Initiatives; Motels; Police; Policing; Studies
• ISSN: 1363-951X; 1758-695X
• DOI: 10.1108/13639511311329787

Purpose - This paper aims to evaluate a problem-oriented policing project that used regulatory policy to foster responsible place management among operators of nuisance motels located in Southern California.Design methodology approach - A mixed-methodological approach was used to ensure that a comprehensive assessment captured substantive outcomes, as well as implementation issues and displacement effects.Findings - Each component of the initiative generated some success, with the greatest crime reduction achieved when all motels were in full compliance with the permit-to-operate ordinance. Consistency in key project staff was critical to maintaining program integrity.Research limitations implications - The displacement analysis suggests that crime prevention evaluations would benefit from a facilities orientation that identifies locations that might host crime if the targeted sites are rendered inopportune. And, net effects can be applied to facilities research using standardized crime rates.Practical implications - Ends-based regulatory policy offers law enforcement an alternative to conventional crime control strategies. Responsibility for crime prevention can be shifted to place managers to reduce the incidents of crime and disorder (reported and unreported to police). Ancillary benefits include better city-industry communication and more efficient use of city resources.Originality value - This research is valuable to police agencies considering the use of ordinances to address crime and disorder problems plaguing risky facilities.