Policing gun crimes: A comprehensive review of strategies and effectiveness

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive review of various studies of police initiatives and practices in dealing with gun crimes. It is aimed at developing a detailed as well as general understanding of different police strategies and their effectiveness in reducing gun crime. The results include two classifications, one on research designs and the other on various police strategies and their effectiveness. They suggest an expanded categorization of police strategies for addressing gun crimes from uniformed targeted patrols and focused deterrence to situational/routine activities and tech-driven law enforcement. Related issues and concerns including methodological flaws were also discussed.