NCJ Number
44168
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF CITIZENS BAND (CB) RADIO AS A COMMUNICATIONS LINK BETWEEN CITIZENS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IS EXPLORED IN THIS FILM; ALSO COVERED ARE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THIS PRACTICE.
Abstract
THE FILM BEGINS BY DEPICTING AN ANCIENT COMMON LAW CUSTOM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN WHICH ALL CITIZENS WERE OBLIGED TO RAISE THEIR VOICES UPON WITNESSING A CRIME. THIS 'HUE AND CRY' WAS CONTINUED UNTIL LOCAL AUTHORITIES COULD APPREHEND THE WRONGDOER. IN THE MODERN COUNTERPART TO THIS OBLIGATION, CITIZENS WITH CB RADIOS BECOME 'EYES AND EARS' IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BY OBSERVING AND REPORTING, OVER THE SPECIAL CB EMERGENCY CHANNEL 9, SUCH THINGS AS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS, TRAFFIC HAZARDS, LOST CHILDREN, FIRES AND NATURAL DISASTERS, CRIMES, AND CRIME-POTENTIAL SITUATIONS. SEVERAL CITIZEN GROUPS WHICH HAVE BANDED TOGETHER FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS WAY INCLUDE RADIO EMERGENCY ASSOCIATED CITIZENS TEAM (REACT), AFFILIATED LEAGUE OF EMERGENCY RADIO TEAMS (ALERT), NATIONAL EMERGENCY AID RADIO (NEAR), AND COMMUNITY RADIO WATCH. THE INCREASED CITIZEN AWARENESS IS REFLECTED IN A REDUCED CRIME RATE, SAVED LIVES AND PROPERTY, AND NEW SENSE OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. PROBLEMS AND DANGERS RELATED TO CB RADIO, SUCH AS VIGILANTISM, VICTIMIZATION OF CB USERS, THEFT OF CB RADIOS, AND VIOLATIONS OF FCC RULES, ARE ALSO BROUGHT OUT, AND WAYS TO COMBAT THEM ARE SUGGESTED. DRAMATIZATIONS OF COMMUNITY CB REPORTING, INTERVIEWS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS AND CB USERS, AND NARRATION ARE INCORPORATED INTO THE FILM.