Can closed-circuit television (CCTV) reduce crime? “My dissertation looks at whether CCTV increases or decreases the level of crime,” explains Amanda Thomas ’09, ’23, retired NYPD sergeant and John Jay doctoral student. “I’m also exploring the effect of CCTV on case outcomes and if some CCTV cameras are more effective than others, and if so, why.”
Focusing on Fayetteville, NC, Thomas says, “The city is using my research to help them decide whether to move forward with CCTV program expansion. If we can establish that a CCTV system can effectively reduce crime, especially in high crime neighborhoods, it can mean saving lives.”
Thomas’s work in Fayetteville builds on research she did as a graduate research assistant for Associate Professor Eric Piza, Ph.D. “One of the reasons I came to John Jay was to work with Dr. Piza,” says Thomas. “He’s an established scholar in the field and the inspiration behind the research I’m doing now.”
Thomas is also an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Law, Police Science, and Criminal Justice Administration. “One of the biggest lessons I share with my students is the importance of training and being prepared,” says Thomas. “I want them to be ready for anything that comes their way, both in the field and in life.”
