This article examines the use of the DDACTS (Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety) by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to improve traffic enforcement in the city.
In 2004, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department (MNPD) implemented the DDACTS (Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety) program to combat crime and traffic crashes in problem areas in the community. The chief of police implemented an accountability-driven leadership model based on the traditional CompStat process, focused traffic enforcement to address crime and traffic safety issues, and emphasized increased communication between precincts and departments. Analysis of the crime rates since implementation of DDACTS shows that between 2003 and 2009: fatal traffic accidents decreased by 15.6 percent, fatalities decreased by 15.9 percent, accidents resulting in injuries decreased by 30.8 percent, and DUI arrests increased by 72.3 percent. In addition, UCR (Uniform Crime Report) data indicate that between 2003 and 2008, Part I crimes decreased 13.9 percent. This article examines in detail the efforts by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department to successfully implement DDACTS. 1 figure, 1 table, 9 notes, and 2 references