Operation Curb Crime VIRGIN ISLANDS


PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS   PROGRAM AREA(S)
  Innovative
Outstanding Collaborative Effort
High Media Visibility		   Police Traffic Services
Occupant Protection
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Public Information and Education
 
TYPE OF JURISDICTION
  U.S. Territory
 
TARGETED POPULATION(S) JURISDICTION SIZE
  General Population   110,000

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

The increasing crime rate in the Virgin Islands was straining the limited police resources available. Police attending the law enforcement workshops sponsored by NHTSA learned of using the traffic stop as a means both to curb crime and reduce traffic crashes. This method of "looking beyond the ticket" uses one available resource for two problems.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Operation Curb Crime aimed to step up enforcement of traffic laws and use traffic checkpoints as a means to:

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The Virgin Islands Police Department assigned two officers per shift, on an over-time basis, to the project. Targeted areas were those with the highest criminal activity and the most traffic crashes. Traffic safety laws were diligently enforced in these areas through the use of checkpoints.

Operation Curb Crime (cont'd)

The local media publicized these efforts using radio, television, newspaper articles and press conferences. The names of violators, together with a description of the violation, were printed in bold letters in the local newspapers.

RESULTS

Data were collected throughout Operation Curb Crime. During the period from October 1, 1995 to February 1996, the following results were achieved: