Prevention-Oriented Policing Means Less Crime

A new study published in The Journal of Public Economics confirms what many advocates of preventative policing have argued: the visible presence of more cops on the streets, rather than the number of arrests they make, can reduce crime.

The study, using data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act from the federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Universal Hiring Program between 2009 and 2014, found that each additional police officer hired prevented four violent crimes and 15 property crimes.