Crime prevention should reduce harm and promote fairness. A new framework supports early action and community leadership. Real progress takes commitment and a focus on justice.
Author Archives: Eric Piza
Can Nonexperimental Studies Improve the Policy Relevance of Crime Prevention Research? Insights from Public-Area Video Surveillance Interventions
Savannah A. Reid, Eric L. Piza, Brandon C. Welsh, and John P. Moylan Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (2024) Research BriefVersion of Record (Open Access) Key Takeaways Research Summary This article addresses a critical question in the field of evidence-based crime prevention: Can nonexperimental studies—those lacking experimental or quasi-experimental designs—enhanceContinue reading “Can Nonexperimental Studies Improve the Policy Relevance of Crime Prevention Research? Insights from Public-Area Video Surveillance Interventions”
Northeastern researchers call for greater attention to social impact and social justice in preventing crime
What do preschool and streetlights have in common? According to Northeastern University researchers, both are effective ways to prevent crime, and they don’t require the involvement of the formal justice system. These seemingly unrelated strategies—early childhood education and environmental design—share a crucial similarity, the researchers say. They focus on preventing crime before it occurs byContinue reading “Northeastern researchers call for greater attention to social impact and social justice in preventing crime”
Cleveland is spending millions on a controversial gunshot detection system. Is it making us safer?
Three years ago, the city of Cleveland agreed to quadruple the size of a controversial gunshot detection tool in the hopes of improving public safety. But after spending $2.8 million on it, emerging evidence suggests the tool is not putting more criminals behind bars or reducing gun violence. Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer analyzed 129Continue reading “Cleveland is spending millions on a controversial gunshot detection system. Is it making us safer?”
The Relative and Joint Effects of Gunshot Detection Technology and Video Surveillance Cameras on Case Clearance in Chicago
Eric L. Piza, Nathan T. Connealy, Rachael A. Arietti, George O. Mohler, and Jeremy G. Carter (2025) Criminology & Public Policy Research BriefVersion of Record (Open Access) Key Takeaways Research Summary The current study is a comprehensive evaluation of how gunshot detection technology (GDT) and closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems affect police case clearance ratesContinue reading “The Relative and Joint Effects of Gunshot Detection Technology and Video Surveillance Cameras on Case Clearance in Chicago”
Video Surveillance and Security
Eric L. Piza (2025) International Association of Professional Security Consultants Research BriefVersion of Record (Open Access) Key Takeaways Research Summary This report critically examines the effectiveness of video surveillance—particularly CCTV—in crime prevention, detection, and public safety, with a focus on implications for private sector security practices. Drawing on decades of research and empirical evaluation, theContinue reading “Video Surveillance and Security”
Honolulu Wants To Put More Cameras In Public Parks To Reduce Crime
Many more of Honolulu’s parks would be subject to video surveillance under a one-year pilot program recently approved by the City Council. But it’s unclear when the rollout will begin because the city still needs to identify funding sources, according to council member Radiant Cordero, who introduced the resolution. The city did not respond to a rangeContinue reading “Honolulu Wants To Put More Cameras In Public Parks To Reduce Crime”
‘More of a Band-Aid’: US cities canceling ShotSpotter due to cost, efficacy questions
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As U.S. cities grapple with gun violence, city leaders and law enforcement agencies have approached the issue in a myriad of ways, including investing in community-based organizations and nonprofits that focus on violence prevention efforts to address the root causes. More than 170 law enforcement agencies have sought help in the form ofContinue reading “‘More of a Band-Aid’: US cities canceling ShotSpotter due to cost, efficacy questions”
The Last Show with David Cooper: CCTV Cameras and Crime
Criminology professors Dr. Eric Piza and Dr. Brandon Welsh reveal whether CCTV cameras really deter crime significantly.
Can Place-Based Crime Prevention Impacts Be Sustained Over Long Durations? 11-Year Follow-up of a Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a CCTV Project
Eric L. Piza, Brandon C. Welsh, Savannah A. Reid, and David N. Hatten (2025) Criminology & Public Policy Research BriefVersion of Record (Open Access) Key Takeaways Research Summary This study investigates the long-term impact of a large-scale CCTV surveillance project in Newark, New Jersey, to determine whether its crime prevention effects persist, diminish, or evolveContinue reading “Can Place-Based Crime Prevention Impacts Be Sustained Over Long Durations? 11-Year Follow-up of a Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a CCTV Project”
Eric L. Piza, Ph.D. 