In Washington, D.C.

• The study examined the impact of Washington’s 73 neighborhood crime cameras, which were installed in 2006–07 after crime flared up in specific DC neighborhoods.
• Responding to public concerns, the Council of the District of Columbia designed and implemented stringent guidelines for the surveillance camera program.
• These guidelines prohibit using the system to view flyers being posted or handed out, or to profile people by race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristics.
• The guidelines also require the cameras to be monitored from a single control center with a police officer at the rank of lieutenant or higher present at all times.
• Cameras alone did not appear to have an effect on crime in the District.

Lessons and Observations

• Residents’ privacy rights must be considered and protected, but guidelines on surveillance system use that are too restrictive can limit their effectiveness.
• The cost of installing, maintaining, and monitoring camera systems far exceeds that of the camera hardware alone.
• Real-time monitoring enables law enforcement to zoom in on a scene and capture important criminal details that cameras programmed to run on an automated tour may miss.
• Law enforcement and prosecutors could benefit from training in retrieving and using camera footage to make and prosecute cases.
• Surveillance systems shouldn’t be viewed as replacements for patrol officers; to be effective, the technology should be fully integrated into law enforcement practices.

Evaluating the Use of Public Surveillance Cameras for Crime Control and Prevention was written by Nancy La Vigne, Samantha Lowry, Joshua Markman, and Allison Dwyer. The research was funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, US Department of Justice, with supplemental funds provided by the Target Corporation.

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