Citizen Self-Help and Neighborhood Crime Prevention Policy (From American Violence and Public Policy, P 87-115, 1985, Lynn A Curtis, ed. - See NCJ-97462)

• NCJ Number: 97466
• Author(s): P J Lavrakas
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 29 pages
• Sale Source: Yale University Press
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Public policy toward crime prevention in the United States has not sufficiently emphasized citizen involvement, which, through the use of multipurpose citizen organizations, should be the central element of crime prevention efforts.

Abstract

Although it has long been known that citizens collectively play the greatest role in determining the level of crime and disorder in their communities, too many citizens do not recognize their responsibility. Governmental institutions can usually only react to crime. Over the last 17 years, public policy has made many starts toward developing effective community crime prevention efforts. However, followup has often been inadequate. The limited knowledge base on which many programs have been founded has been a major barrier to the successful implementation of citizen anticrime strategies. However, much research has been done and has pointed to specific strategies needed. Because most Americans assume that the police are crime prevention experts, the police must develop and exercise crime prevention expertise. They must identify and work with existing citizen organizations to increase residents' capacity to prevent crime. Eight steps for strengthening local citizen organizations are described. Sixty-six notes are provided.