The S.A.R.A. Model of crime prevention is a part of what was coined as “Problem-Oriented Policing” by Herman Goldstein in 1979.  Problem-Oriented Policing, or POP, was a response to reactive, incident-driven policing in which successes in addressing community problems were short-lived.

For this assignment you are to identify a problem in your area.  Using the SARA model address each step. 

1.  Identify the problem by writing a brief scenario of what it happening.

Complete each step:

During the scanning phase, law enforcement works with community members to identify existing or potential problems and prioritize them.  It’s helpful to answer a few questions within this phase:

• Is this problem real or perceived? 
• What are the consequences of not addressing this problem? 
• How often does this problem occur?  Is it daily?  Weekly? Just during certain seasons, or big events? 
• Is this problem real or perceived? 
• What are the consequences of not addressing this problem? 
• How often does this problem occur? 

When we analyze a known community problem, we use relevant data to learn more.  Our goal is to be effective in reducing or eliminating it, so we must pinpoint possible explanations for why or how the problem is occuring.  Again, we can ask some useful questions to guide us:

• What relevant data is available?  Statistics?  Calls for service?  Demographics? 
• What are some possible explanations for why or how the problem is occuring?  Are there environmental issues?  Is there a behavioral issue? Is there a lack of appropriate legislation or policy to enforce a solution?  Is there a lack of community services?   
• What is currently being done to address the problem? Is anything at all being done? If something is being done, why is it ineffective? Who is involved in the current response? What resources are being dedicated to the current response?   

Response: In this phase of addressing crime, law enforcement and community partners work together to identify and select responses, or interventions, that are most likely to lead to long-term success in reducing or eliminating the community problem they have scanned and analyzed.

Two questions should be asked during this phase:

• What are some possible ways to address the problem?  Do we need more community partners?  Do we need to alter access? Do we need to install monitoring devices?  Does a law or policy need to be implemented or changed? Do we need to better enforce the ones we already have?  Do we need to make a list of community services and make referrals?  
• Which of the potential responses are going to be most successful? Which interventions will attack the root causes, not the symptoms? What interventions will have a positive long-term impact?   
• Create:  
• an outline of each potential response, 
• the objective for each potential response,  
• who is implementing each response, and  
• the responsibilities of each person or agency implementing each response. 

Assessment: During the final phase of the S.A.R.A. Model, the team evaluates two questions:

• Was each intervention in the response plan implemented in a way that was consistent with the plan?  Did each person and/or agency carry out their responsibilities?  Did anyone veer off course? Did the plan lose momentum?   
• Did the response achieve their intended effects?  Were the objectives met?  If not, why?