NCJ Number
66913
Date Published
1980
Length
30 pages
Annotation
DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON BOSTON'S 1978-1980 NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PROGRAM FOR SAFETY (NAPS) (MASSACHUSETTS), IMPLEMENTED TO HELP CITIZENS CONTROL CRIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
Abstract
NAPS WAS ORGANIZED TO MEET A GROWING PUBLIC CONCERN IN BOSTON ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME; ITS GOALS INCLUDE INCREASING BOTH CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME PREVENTION AND THE COORDINATED RESPONSE OF CITY AGENCIES IN CRIME PREVENTION. NAPS COORDINATORS FROM PARTICIPATING NEIGHBORHOODS WERE TRAINED IN ORGANIZING BLOCK WATCHES, MARKING PROPERTY FOR IDENTIFICATION IN OF THEFT, AND BASIC CRIME PREVENTION, AS WELL AS IN INVESTIGATED AND CONTACTED SOUCES OF SUPPORT IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, SUCH AS HOSPITALS, CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AND SCHOOLS; DEVELOPED CRIME PREVENTION OBJECTIVES FOR THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS; AND COMPLETED SPECIAL PROJECTS SUCH AS HOME-SECURITY CHECKLISTS, A VANDALISM PROGRAM, AND A RAPE PREVENTION BROCHURE. SINCE ESTIMATES SHOW THAT 44 PERCENT OF BURGLARY IS OWNER-ABETTED THROUGH NEGLIGENCE, COORDINATORS GREATLY HELPED PREVENT BURGLARY IN ORGANIZING OVER 70 BLOCKWATCHES AND TALKING TO HUNDREDS OF BOSTON CITIZENS ABOUT THE CRIME. NAPS SUFFERS MANY SHORTCOMINGS, HOWEVER. NO PROGRAM STRATEGY OR OBJECTIVES WERE DEVELOPED, LEADING TO CONFUSION AND INABILITY TO MONITOR THE PROGRAM. FURTHER, ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS HAVE LED TO INADEQUATE CRIME PREVENTION KNOWLEDGE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD COORDINATORS, AND INADEQUATE COMMUNICATION PERSISTS BETWEEN THE BOSTON POLICE AND NAPS. FINALLY, NAPS LACKS CRIME RATE STATISTICS AND SUFFICIENT TIME TO DEVELOP PROJECTS. APPENDIXES DESCRIBE THE NEIGHBORHOODS INVOLVED IN NAPS AND GIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION. (PAP)