North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

What does the acronym SARA stand for in the context of crime prevention?

1. Security and Risk Assessment

2. Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment

3. Safety Awareness and Risk Action

4. Statistical Analysis of Risk Areas

The correct answer is: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment

In the context of crime prevention, the acronym SARA stands for Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment. This model is widely utilized in problem-oriented policing and serves as a structured approach for law enforcement agencies to identify and address specific crime-related issues in their communities. The first phase, Scanning, involves identifying and prioritizing problems that require attention. During this stage, officers collect data and identify patterns of crime or social disorder that impact the community. The second phase, Analysis, entails a deeper investigation into the selected problems to determine their underlying causes and factors contributing to their persistence. This includes gathering relevant statistics, community input, and other data. The third phase, Response, involves developing and implementing strategies to address the identified issues. This might include deploying resources, collaborating with community partners, or developing enforcement initiatives aimed at reducing crime. Finally, the Assessment phase involves evaluating the effectiveness of the response strategies, determining whether the implemented actions have had the desired impact, and making adjustments based on what was learned through the evaluation process. This comprehensive approach allows law enforcement to tackle crime in a systematic way, ensuring that efforts are evidence-based and directly targeting the underlying issues contributing to crime and disorder. The other answer choices do not accurately reflect the recognized stages of the