Which term describes the spillover effect where crime control benefits extend beyond the targeted area?

• A. Broken windows policing
• B. COPS Program
• C. Spatial diffusion of crime control benefits
• D. Hot spots policing

Answer: (C)

When crime-control efforts extend benefits beyond where they’re targeted, it’s describing how deterrence and police presence in one area can reduce crime in neighboring areas as well. This spatial spillover is captured by the term spatial diffusion of crime control benefits. It’s the best fit because it names the movement of those protective effects across space, not just within a single block. For context, deterrence from visible policing, patrols, or focused enforcement in one neighborhood can raise perceived risk for offenders in adjacent areas, leading to lower crime there too. The other options describe policing approaches or programs rather than this diffusion phenomenon: one refers to addressing minor disorder to prevent larger crime, another to a federal community policing funding program, and another to directing efforts at high-crime locations.