Overview
Access the “Community Crime Research: Investigating Crime in Your City Using the SARA Model” Instructions document to complete the Topic 3 assignment.
JUS-320 Topic 3 ONLINE
Community Crime Research: Investigating Crime in Your City Using the SARA Model
Overview
Each student will research crime in a police beat within a specific city of your choice. Select a city that has crime data available in the LexisNexis Community Crime Map and that has police beats. The goal is to analyze crime trends, identify key issues, and apply the SARA Model to propose solutions. Individual efforts are assessed based on research quality, accuracy, and presentation.
Step 1: Research Your Assigned Police Beat
You will research crime trends in the police beat of the city you choose, using data sources. Select the densest population area in the city you choose from which to select a police beat.
Where to Find Information:
- LexisNexis Crime Map: https://communitycrimemap.com/
- Local law enforcement reports (if available online)
- City crime statistics websites
- News articles covering crime trends
What to Find:
- Most common crimes in your assigned beat
- Where and when these crimes occur
- Possible causes and contributing factors
- Who is most affected (e.g., businesses, schools, residential areas)
⚠️ Additional research (optional but encouraged): Reviewing journal articles on crime patterns can improve the quality of your report and help validate your findings.
Step 2: Applying the SARA Model
You will apply the SARA Model to your police beat. Use the SARA model template to provide your responses to the following SARA model prompts.
SARA Model Breakdown
🔎 Scanning – Identify the problem.
- What is the main crime in your police beat?
- Who is affected?
📊 Analysis – Understand the problem.
- What factors contribute to this crime?
- What areas are most affected?
- What patterns do you see (time, location, repeat offenses)?
🛠 Response – Develop a plan.
- What actions could reduce this crime?
- What strategies have been tried before, and were they successful?
📈 Assessment – Measure success.
- How will you know if the response worked?
- What data will show improvement?
Step 3: Creating Your Slide
You will create a single slide that summarizes your research. Your slide must present the following:
- Chosen city & police beat
- Most common crime in your area
- Crime patterns (time, location, frequency)
- Your SARA Model findings
Note: You will be posting this slide in the Discussion Form for DQ 2.JUS-320 Topic 3 SARA Model Template
Instructions: Complete each section of the template below at the provided bullet spaces. Be sure to list your sources in the “References” at the end.
SARA Model
Scanning – Identify the Problem
What is the main crime in your police beat?
•
Who is affected?
•
Analysis – Understand the Problem
What factors contribute to this crime?
•
What areas are most affected?
•
What patterns do you see (time, location, repeat offenses)?
•
Response – Develop a Plan
What actions could reduce this crime?
•
What strategies have been tried before, and were they successful?
•
Assessment – Measure Success
How will you know if the response worked?
•
What data will show improvement?
•
References