Neighborhood Watch Program

2537 Words6 Pages

Neighborhood Watch Program

According to National Sheriffs Association, “Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in North America (2010).”When the National Sheriffs Association established the Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972, the main purpose of the program was to educate individuals about securing their homes to reduce the chances of being victimized by criminals (National Sheriffs Association, 2010). However, as time went on Neighborhood Watch Programs took on a proactive role in helping to reduce crime by encouraging individuals to collaborate with their local law enforcement agency to monitor and report suspicious activities in the community.

However, different communities suffered from different types of crimes; therefore, if a neighborhood watch program is to be effective, the participants in the program must examine, which types of crimes are occurring in their community, and which neighborhood watch program will be most effective for their community. For example, if the neighborhood is suffering from gang and drug activity, then the program must address these issues. The members in the watch group must examine different ways to stop these types of behaviors from occurring within their community. In this report, one will examine different types of Neighborhood Watch Programs, some of which have been around for 30 years. This report will focus on how criminological theories may offer an insight into why Neighborhood Watch Program helps to reduce crimes within a community. Neighborhood watch programs allow individuals in the communities to take back the streets from the criminals, and restore the pride of the community by uniting the members for the purpose of reducing crimes wi...

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