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Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-01T17:01:45.901Z • Permanent link

Research by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), published in the journal PLOS ONE, has found that non-police community guardians can effectively reduce crime in urban disorder hotspots by building relationships with local residents. The study, led by Dr. Rachel Dolezal, a criminologist at UCLA, analyzed data from over 100 community guardian programs in Los Angeles and found that those that focused on building trust and relationships with local residents were more successful in reducing crime. Specifically, the study found that community guardians who were able to establish relationships with local residents were able to identify and address underlying issues that contributed to crime, such as poverty and lack of access to education and job opportunities.

One of the key individuals behind the study is Dr. Dolezal, who has been working with community guardians in Los Angeles for over a decade. "Community guardians are not just a new approach to policing, they are a new way of thinking about community and public safety," she said in an interview. "They are able to build relationships with local residents and understand the underlying issues that contribute to crime, and then work to address those issues." The study's findings were also supported by data from the Los Angeles Police Department, which showed that community guardian programs were able to reduce crime in targeted areas by as much as 30%.

The study's findings have significant implications for the way that communities approach public safety. By building relationships with local residents and addressing underlying issues, community guardians can help to create safer and more stable communities. This approach is also supported by a growing number of cities around the world, including New York City and Chicago, which have implemented community guardian programs as part of their efforts to reduce crime and improve public safety.

The study's findings have significant implications for companies and research communities that focus on public safety and community development. For example, companies that specialize in crime prevention and community development, such as the National Crime Prevention Council, may be interested in learning more about the role of community guardians in reducing crime. Researchers who study crime and public safety may also be interested in the study's findings, as they provide new insights into the effectiveness of community guardian programs.

The study's findings also have significant implications for markets and policy environments that focus on public safety and community development. For example, cities that have implemented community guardian programs may see an increase in property values and a decrease in crime rates, which can have a positive impact on local businesses and residents. Policymakers who are interested in reducing crime and improving public safety may also be interested in learning more about the role of community guardians in achieving these goals.

The study's findings are part of a larger trend towards community-led approaches to public safety. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that traditional approaches to policing, such as the use of force and arrest, are not effective in addressing the root causes of crime. Instead, many cities are turning to community-led approaches, such as community guardian programs, as a way to build trust and relationships with local residents and address underlying issues that contribute to crime. This approach is also supported by a growing number of research studies, including a 2020 study published in the Journal of Crime Prevention that found that community-led approaches to public safety were more effective in reducing crime than traditional approaches.