Abstract:
In the early 1990s, two quite different neighborhoods in Norfolk, Virginia are both struggling against crime. In Bay View, crime is an exceptional problem in select areas, marring a generally safe neighborhood. In East Norview, drugs and violent crime are far more pervasive. This case tells the story of how one citywide initiative in Norfolk, the Police Assisted Community Enforcement Program--designed to bring the relevant resources of any department of the city government to bear on problems which might be leading to crime--has to be adapted to the different circumstances of Bay View and East Norview. In more affluent Bay View, police form an alliance with existing institutions of civil society--already-organized neighborhood groups and leaders. In East Norview, police, though able to identify neighborhood leaders willing to assist, find they must take steps to reduce fear and increase confidence in the police department, as a prerequisite for forging an alliance with the churches, schools, and other institutions in the area. The case raises the question of how government interested in achieving a universal goal--in this case, lower crime--should assess specific circumstances and tailor its response.
