A Review of Evaluation Methods & Tools to Measure the Impact of Crime Prevention Through Social Development

The Peterborough Police Service require better evaluation tools for their Crime Prevention through Social Development (CPSD) efforts. There are four research categories driving this project: general understanding of CPSD; tools and methods for evaluating CPSD; personnel conducting the evaluation with specific emphasis on police; and collaboration between police and other organizations. Research was conducted through literature review and administering a survey to police officials throughout Ontario. The literature review and the survey indicated that there is no existing easy measurement system for CPSD due to a dearth of specific evaluation tools. It was discovered that collaboration is important and that there are potential methodologies that could be applied to evaluating CPSD from a variety of disciplines, but nothing specifically created to measure CPSD was found. Where evaluations were taking place, the personnel conducting the evaluation varied but were primarily municipal officials or civilians/third-party organizations. Collaboration is a crucial component for any CPSD measure. Further research into evaluation tools, creating a CPSD working group for Ontario police services, merging 'hard' and 'soft' policing, conducting longitudinal studies, and creating standardized language are recommended.