Prevention Works, the blog for the National Crime Prevention Council, posted a story today that reviews multiple studies concluding that surveillance cameras have little to no effect on deterring crime in general. For example, an analysis done at the University of California, Berkley, found that surveillance cameras had no effect as a deterrent and had no effect on conviction rates; although, there was some reduction in property crime near surveillance camera installations. The post also cites the use of a $2 million surveillance system along the US-Mexico border that resulted in three arrests in a six-month period, and questions the cost benefit of such a system.