What You'll Learn
The Concept
Police officers frequently respond to the same problems repeatedly. A disorderly location generates dozens of calls. Vehicles are repeatedly burglarized in the same parking lot. A particular intersection experiences recurring crashes. A convenience store repeatedly becomes the location of robberies. Traditional incident-driven policing may treat each occurrence separately.
Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) approaches the situation differently. Developed largely through the work of policing scholar Herman Goldstein, problem-oriented policing encourages police agencies to identify recurring problems, analyze their underlying causes, develop tailored responses, and determine whether those responses actually worked.
One of the best-known tools associated with POP is the SARA Model. S — Scanning: Identify recurring problems. Questions might include: What incidents are repeatedly occurring? Where are they occurring? Who is affected? Why does the issue matter? Is this actually a recurring problem?
A — Analysis: Analysis is often the most important — and most frequently overlooked — stage. Investigators attempt to determine: When does the problem happen? Where? Who is involved? Who are the victims? Who are the offenders? What environmental conditions contribute? What has already been attempted? Why have previous responses failed?
R — Response: Police develop responses based upon the analysis. Arrests may be part of the response, but alternatives might include environmental redesign, licensing enforcement, traffic engineering, business partnerships, improved lighting, cameras, outreach, targeted patrol, code enforcement, or other strategies.
A — Assessment: Did it work? Police examine outcomes. Did calls decline? Did crime decrease? Did the problem relocate? Did residents feel safer? Were there unintended consequences?
The SARA framework grew from problem-oriented policing initiatives and has subsequently become a widely used model for police problem solving. Its greatest lesson is remarkably simple: Do not automatically assume that repeatedly responding to the same problem is the same thing as solving it.
Real-World Application
A parking lot near a transit station experiences repeated vehicle burglaries. Scanning confirms it is a genuine recurring problem. Analysis reveals that most burglaries occur during evening hours, target vehicles with visible valuables, and concentrate in a poorly lit corner of the lot. Response includes improved lighting, signage warning drivers to remove valuables, coordination with transit authority, and targeted patrol during peak hours. Assessment three months later shows a significant reduction in burglary calls — and no evidence that crime simply relocated to adjacent lots.
Why It Matters
For Police Officers
SARA gives officers a structured framework for moving beyond reactive patrol. Officers who apply problem-oriented thinking can address the conditions producing crime rather than simply managing its symptoms.
For Students
The SARA Model is one of the most tested frameworks in introductory criminal-justice and policing courses. Understanding each stage — and why Analysis is often the most critical — is essential for exams and research papers.
Think About It
Why is Analysis often described as the most important — and most frequently overlooked — stage of the SARA Model?
How does Problem-Oriented Policing differ from traditional incident-driven policing? What organizational changes might be needed to support a POP approach?
Can you identify a recurring public-safety problem in your community that might benefit from a SARA analysis?
Sources & Further Reading
Goldstein, H. (1990). Problem-Oriented Policing. McGraw-Hill.
Eck, J. E., & Spelman, W. (1987). Problem Solving: Problem-Oriented Policing in Newport News. Police Executive Research Forum.
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Problem-Oriented Policing resources.