Work

What is the Best Response? Examining the Impact of Police and Their Alternatives

Year: 2025

Type: report

Abstract: Cities across America are adopting civilian crisis response programs as alternatives to traditional policing, yet causal evidence on their impact and cost-effectiveness is scarce.This paper evaluates Durham, North Carolina's HEART program, which diverts nonviolent 911 calls from police.Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that HEART reduces crime reports, arrests, and response times-primarily through civilian phone and in-person responses, rather than policecivilian co-responses.The program increases future 911 calls, which suggests it fosters public trust.Based on an original contingent valuation survey and applying the marginal value of public funds framework, we conclude that HEART is a fiscally self-sustainable intervention.

Source: National Bureau of Economic Research

DOI: 10.3386/w34344

Authors: Bocar Ba, Patton Chen, Tony Cheng, Martha Eies, Justin Holz

Institutions: National Bureau of Economic Research, Duke University, University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Policing Practices and Perceptions

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: green

Funders: Arnold Ventures, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development