Public Perceptions of Hot Spots Policing: How Crime Reduction Stats and Stigma Narratives Affect Public Perceptions

Abstract A robust body of evidence indicates that hot spots policing is effective at reducing crime. However, relatively few studies have examined citizens’ views of the strategy, and the limited findings that do exist are mixed. Research on message framing, meanwhile, shows that the way information is presented can shape public attitudes toward criminal justice policies. As more agencies adopt hot spots approaches, this knowledge gap provides an opportunity to understand and ultimately improve