This book investigates the implementation and efficacy of the Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS) to determine if community-oriented policing can successfully transform urban law enforcement. The authors, Susan M. Hartnett and Wesley G. Skogan, utilize their extensive research background to analyze the organizational, social, and logistical shifts required to transition a major metropolitan police department toward a decentralized, problem-solving model. By examining the specific mechanics of the Chicago program, the text argues that the success of community policing depends heavily on the integration of public priorities into departmental operations.

Experts and scholars in the field of criminology frequently cite this work as a foundational case study for understanding the complexities of police reform. Readers often note the academic rigor and the clear, evidence-based approach the authors take when evaluating the successes and limitations of the Chicago model.