NCJ Number
68134
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 62-67
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
POLICE MUST MODERNIZE THEIR CRIME PREVENTION EFFORTS THROUGH CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY PLANS IF CRIME IS TO BE REDUCED; THE POLICE ARE IN A PIVOTAL POSITION FOR EDUCATING CITIZENS.
Abstract
IF POLICE ARE TO EFFECTIVELY PERFORM THEIR CONTEMPORARY ROLE IN CRIME PREVENTION, DRASTIC CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN THEIR TRAINING CURRICULA. IN SOME JURISDICTIONS, TECHNIQUES OF ARREST, FIREARMS, AND TACTICAL OPERATIONS, WHILE OF IMPORTANCE, RECEIVE ATTENTION OUT OF PROPORTION TO NEED. FORTUNATELY, MANY POLICE DEPARTMENTS NOW HAVE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAUS. A TRAINED CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER CAN RECOMMEND THAT A HOMEOWNER, BUSINESS PERSON, INDUSTRIAL PLANT, OR SCHOOL TAKE ACTION TO IMPROVE SECURITY. HOWEVER, IN MOST CASES, THE OFFICER HAS NO LEGAL AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE THAT SUCH ACTION BE TAKEN. THUS, CRIME PREVENTION BECOMES A SELLING PROCESS. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL METHODS OF CRIME CONTROL SHOULD NOT BE ABANDONED AS THESE METHODS ARE EFFECTIVE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, POLICE AGENCIES MUST REVISE THEIR POLICIES AND IMPLEMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS WHICH UNDERLINE CRIME PREVENTION, INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS, VICTIMOLOGY, CRIMINOLOGY, AND HUMAN RELATIONS. CRIME PREVENTIVE MEASURES POLICE CAN IMPLEMENT INCLUDE OPERATION IDENTIFICATION (WHEREIN CITIZENS ARE URGED TO IDENTIFY THEIR VALUABLES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE), INSTALLATION OF SECURITY DEVICES IN BUSINESSES AND RESIDENCES, AND BLOCK ASSOCIATIONS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)