This report examines the impact of digital cameras in reducing car crime in parking facilities operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). To deter offenders and minimize costs, Metro Transit Police invested in digital cameras, installing still cameras at the exits of half of Metro's commuter parking lots, along with signs alerting patrons that the license plate numbers and exit times were being monitored. Between 1999 and 2003, prior to the beginning of this study, about half of all crimes on WMATA property occurred in parking facilities. After the cameras were in place for 12 months, analysis found that the cameras had no discernable impact on crime, in part due to the absence of a closed-circuit component, which precluded staff from viewing from a central location and intervening as a crime was committed. Also, camera footage had to be downloaded manually from each individual camera. The report, Evaluation of Camera Use to Prevent Crime in Commuter Parking Facilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial, was produced by the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center and supported by a National Institute of Justice grant. To view the report, visit https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236740.pdf.
