Final answer:
The Hartford Experiment involved increasing police presence through foot patrols. Effective crime prevention strategies include community-oriented policing, improved economic conditions, and targeted interventions. Focused approaches are generally more effective than blanket increases in policing resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
To reduce crime and the fear of crime, the Hartford Experiment involved increasing police presence through foot patrols, as indicated by option A) Increasing police presence through foot patrols. This approach is consistent with community-oriented policing which has been found to build trust within communities, thus potentially reducing crime. Efforts such as neighborhood watch programs, better street lighting, and body cameras on police officers have been shown to contribute to this goal.
On a broader scale, effective crime prevention strategies often revolve around raising the costs of crime through deterrence or by increasing the opportunity costs of engaging in criminal activities. For instance, better education and economic conditions can deter potential crimes by providing more beneficial alternatives to criminal behavior. Furthermore, targeted interventions in high-risk populations can also yield significant reductions in crime, as indicated by several programs that focus on early childhood development and concentrated efforts in crime hotspots.
It is important to note that blanket increases in policing resources without a specific target or strategy may not be as effective as more focused approaches. The use of technology like CCTVs and body cameras, as well as environmental and community-based strategies like addressing visual blight, can also contribute to crime reduction without increasing negative perceptions of policing within communities.