Creative Partnerships Supporting Youth, Building Communities

• NCJ Number: 197718
• Author(s): Dylan Pressman; Robert Chapman; Linda Rosen
• Date Published: September 2002
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Cops Innovations: A Closer Look

Annotation

This booklet describes three examples of innovative community policing programs, initiated by the COPS Office, that coordinate efforts between law enforcement, schools, and the community to promote safe environments for youth by addressing issues of juvenile crime and victimization.

Abstract

Since 1994 COPS has served as a catalyst for creating community-wide policing practices. The Home Run Program, in San Bernardino County, California, facilitates close working relationships between the county probation department and county high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools. Currently, 26 individual probation officers work directly with specific schools or clusters of schools to aid students in identifying behavioral problems that place them at risk of entering the juvenile justice system. School attendance and academic performance are monitored and home calls are made if needed. School attendance has increased at each school with an officer assigned to it. Police magnet schools connect students and police officers in New York City and Los Angeles, California, involving youth in police agencies, developing bonds between youth and police officers, and encouraging youth to choose law enforcement as a rewarding career path. It is hoped that more minority and female students will be attracted to applying for law enforcement positions in the future. These magnet schools offer a smaller educational community that can connect a young person's academic studies with career aspirations and goals. The bonds that develop between youth and police officers provide a positive role model relationship between students and police officers. The Stop the Violence Program was created to look at youth violence from a youth perspective. STOP the Violence (Students Taking On Prevention) is a community-based training curriculum focused on the promotion of personal growth, leadership skills, and competency development for youth. Young people are empowered to recognize, report, and reduce the potential for violence in their communities.