A Neighborhood Watch Program: Community Crime Prevention And Crimes

720 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of community policing for crime prevention

A Neighborhood Watch program consists of community crime prevention efforts involving local residents organizing and sharing information about crime and other nefarious activity in their immediate area. The essence of Neighborhood Watch is crime prevention through education and use of common sense. In cooperation with local law enforcement, citizens are taught how to properly identify and report suspicious activity or criminal offending in their neighborhoods. Watch groups primarily focus on observation and awareness as the main crime prevention strategies. These tactics can be as simple as having neighborhood residents keep vigilance on neighbors’ property to as complex as organizing active citizen patrol groups. A second purpose of Neighborhood …show more content…

From theoretical limitations of the program to concerns from citizens that the crime prevention program will result in intrusive behavior on the part of neighbors, some studies have found limited positive effects on reductions in crime or on the program’s ability to create connections between neighbors and law enforcement. In 2005 Neighborhood Watch was formally introduced on Native American reservations. Euphemistically termed RezWatch, Neighborhood Watch programs on tribal lands were started in efforts to combat drug manufacturing and distribution as well as alcohol abuse by residents and outsiders. Some tribes have implemented anonymous tip lines to enable residents to inform tribal police about criminal offending, while others have instituted brochures and flyers to raise awareness about the watch programs and compel citizens to report instances of crime, violence, or disorder. In 2002, USAonWatch.org, Neighborhood Watch’s Web presence, was launched through partnerships between the National Sheriffs’ Association, USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps, and the U.S. Department of Justice. The Web site is a treasure trove of valuable information for citizens on the creation of Neighborhood Watch groups, the history of the crime prevention initiative, and links to partnering agencies within the greater law enforcement

Show More
Related

  • History Of The Watch At Night

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...area. Researchers have realized that even though foot patrol did not exactly lower the rate of the crimes as they have hoped for, but they did realize that maybe people would not commit crimes in those areas if they knew that officers are around almost at every other corner and they would be easily caught right away. Also, in this article, it has been noted that close contact between police and the people helps the former develop first-hand information about crime and possible criminal behavior. Information system such as this is more likely to have a positive long-term impact.

    Read More

  • Crime Free Multi-Housing Program Analysis

    321 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Phoenix Crime Free Multi-Housing program is intended to help keep unlawful activity and drugs off the premises of owners, residents, and rental property managers. This program was designed for residents to have the chance to distribute the subject information with the police, which will help create and preserve a secure housing environment. The program is driven to develop and solve solutions for current problems in the community. Addition, Crime Free Multi-Housing has proven to be trustworthy and successful in reducing the occurrences of criminal activities in

    Read More

  • The Laws Regarding Stand Your Ground Not Being Equally Applied

    1443 Words  | 3 Pages

    1. National Crime Prevention Council. (2014). Neighborhood Watch. Retrieved from National Crime Prevention Council: http://www.ncpc.org/topics/home-and-neighborhood-safety/neighborhood-watch

    Read More

  • Hot Spot Policing Essay

    1331 Words  | 3 Pages

    Unfocused and indiscriminate enforcement actions will produce poor relationships between the police and community members residing in areas. Law enforcement should adopt alternative approaches to controlling problem areas, tracking hot persons, and preventing crime in problem regions. Arresting criminal offenders is the main police function and one of the most valuable tools in an array of responses to crime plagued areas, however hot spots policing programs infused with community and problem oriented policing procedures hold great promise in improving police and community relations in areas suffering from crime and disorder problems and developing a law enforcement service prepared to protect its nation from an act of

    Read More

  • Problem Oriented Policing

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oliver, William. (1998). Community-Oriented Policing: A Systemic Approach to Policing (Second edition 2001). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.

    Read More

  • The Cincinnati Initiative To Reduce Violence: A Case Study

    1000 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Cincinnati Initiative to Reduce Violence is a program based on multi agencies and community collaboration to reduce gun violence and homicides. Law enforcement agencies, the community and social service providers all have the same common goal, which is to stop the violent street crimes. To reach the goal, in-call sessions where used to communicate with probation and parole officers as well as some probationers and parolees. The community and media was also contacted to help achieve the goal. Law enforcement agencies worked to gather information from violent street groups. Those who continued to engage in the were given consequences. For those who “turned a new leaf” and became productive were provided with social services, trainings, education and employment.

    Read More

  • Why Are Some Neighborhoods More Prone To Experience Violent Episodes Than Others?

    1010 Words  | 3 Pages

    Sampson, R., Raudenbush, S., & Earls, F. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: a multilevel study of collective efficacy. Science, 277, 918-924.

    Read More

  • Police Integrity And Integrity

    1616 Words  | 4 Pages

    Community oriented policing has been around for over 30 years, and promotes and supports organizational strategies to address the causes, and reduce the fear of crime and social disorder through problem solving tactics. The way community policing works is it requires the police and citizens to work together to increase safety for the public. Each community policing program is different depending on the needs of the community. There have been five consistent key elements of an effective community oriented policing program: Adopting community service as the overarching philosophy of the organization, making an institutional commitment to community policing that is internalized throughout the command structure, emphasizing geographically decentralized models of policing that stress services tailored to the needs of individual communities rather than a one-size-fits-all approach for the entire jurisdiction, empowering citizens to act in partnership with the police on issues of crime and more broadly defined social problems, for example, quality-of-life issues, and using problem-oriented or problem-solving approaches involving police personnel working with community members. Community oriented policing has improved the public’s perception of the police in a huge way. Community policing builds more relationships with the

    Read More

  • Approaches to crime prevention

    1659 Words  | 4 Pages

    Approaches to crime prevention have emerged over time and are demonstrated in different solutions, practices, and policies executed by law enforcement, courts, corrections, family, and community. Some of the dominant approaches to crime prevention currently used by law enforcement, courts, corrections, family, and community are: situational crime prevention, crime prevention through social development, crime prevention through environmental design, community crime prevention, reduction of recidivism, and policing. In this essay, I will compare and contrast the dominant approaches used for crime prevention and analyze which approaches are most effective. I will identify and apply at least four approaches used in law enforcement, legislation, courts, corrections, family, and community within the crime prevention programs.

    Read More

  • Crime And Violent Crimes

    1732 Words  | 4 Pages

    Crime rates, especially violent crimes such as murder, rape, and robbery, peaked around 1991 and 1992, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reports. The major crime topics of that time included drug abuse and the war on drugs, still some remnants from the crack cocaine epidemic from the late 1980s, and the increase in juvenile violence in the late 1980s. In addition to these, legislation such as the Brady Bill continued to surface as a public policy that drew attention to the issue of gun violence, and other topics tended to be emphasized by the Bush administration, such as the exclusionary rule, the death penalty, habeas corpus, and the insanity defense. Community policing developed at the grassroots level in the early 1980s, coming out of local police demonstration projects that were often funded by the National Institute of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance. Community policing came about out of the rejection of traditional policing practices in the 1970s, largely as a result of various studies that found that long held assumptions in policing were found not to hold up to scrutiny. An article written by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling published in an edition of Atlantic Monthly in 1982 brought about the broken windows theory. This theory holds that when people no longer care about their community, the condition on that neighborhood often sends signals to people that no one cares. This allows for disorder and minor crimes to pass unnoticed, which will lead to more serious crimes. Once disorder begins to take hold and minor crimes become common, eventually the neighborhood will decay and become crime ridden. The key to fixing the broken windows is for police to target these minor crimes...

    Read More

  • Community Policing

    1030 Words  | 3 Pages

    To conclude, Community policing represents a major development in the history of American law enforcement, but the extent to which this approach is a success and dominates contemporary policing remains a source of debate. In my point of view, community policing is good for communities. It has challenged the traditional concept of the police as crime-fighters by drawing attention to the complexities of the police role and function. In addition to the police officer hard work; citizens can also make a difference and contribute to make neighborhoods a better place to live. For instance, citizens can hold community meetings to talk about concerns and agree on solutions help organize healthy activities for children in your neighborhood, join or starting a neighborhood crime watch program, and talk to your community police officers and share information and concerns.

    Read More

  • Essay On Arson Through Vandalism

    890 Words  | 2 Pages

    Put the neighbor back into neighborhood by creating a sense of cooperation. Neighborhood Watch can play an important role in deterring future crimes such as arson or burglary. Building a strong and good relationship among government agencies like local fire department, emergency personnel, and law enforcement could be beneficial for the community in reducing arson.

    Read More

  • Benefits Of Neighborhood Watch

    1725 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Neighborhood Watch programs became popular in the 1970s and 1980s; by 2000, roughly 40% of the U.S. residential population was covered by such citizen crime-watching programs. These neighborhood associations typically involve recruiting residents to participate in community meetings and various surveillance tasks around properties and common areas; a block captain and coordinator may take leadership roles and serve as liaisons to the local police” (Whibey, 2012). Neighborhood watch empowers everyday citizens to take charge of their life and the safety of their community to become active by fighting against crime and community issues. Neighborhood watches are not only responsible for the safety of their community but cleaning up the disorder as well, so when there is an issue of needing to clean up the neighborhood of trash or graffiti, this is the group that can take charge of getting that fixed or deterring it from happening.

    Read More

  • Crime prediction and Prevention

    631 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Operation Weed and Seed, a U.S. Department of Justice community-based initiative, is an innovative and comprehensive multi-agency approach to law enforcement, crime prevention, and community revitalization. Operation Weed and Seed is foremost a strategy—rather than a grant program—which aims to prevent, control, and reduce violent crime, drug abuse, and gang activity in designated high-crime neighborhoods across the country. (2005, U.S. Department of Justice). This Program would assist us in preventing crime and also to reduce crime. Individuals that are a part of the Weed and Seed, could assist also in providing information as well.

    Read More

  • The History Of Criminology

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    Neighbor crime watch group also an organized group people in their neighbor who will keep watch of criminal and suspicious behavior so they could Alarm the local law enforcement. “Every day, neighborhoods across the United States confront any number of property and violent crimes and threats of crime. This strategy attempts to provide local law enforcement with additional eyes and ears to watch out for all types of criminal activity and promote neighborhood security. Community Problem Addressed According to the webpage of http://www.ncpc.org/topics/preparedness/strategies/strategy-starting-neighborhood-watch-groups “Every day, neighborhoods across the United States confront any number of property and violent crimes and threats of crime. This strategy attempts to provide local law enforcement with additional eyes and ears to watch out for all types of criminal activity and promote neighborhood security. Community crime watches can address all types of crime, but their primary focus is typically residential burglary and other crimes around the home, such as larceny and vandalism. Their presence can also help deter criminals who would attempt to conduct drug- or gang-related activities in the

    Read More

More about A Neighborhood Watch Program: Community Crime Prevention And Crimes

Open Document