NCJ Number
88782
Journal
Kriminalist Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (February 1982) Pages: 63-64,67-69,71
Date Published
1983
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Baden-Wuertemberg has allocated more additional resources than any other West German State to augment the Federal crime prevention program underway in the country since 1979.
Abstract
Mandated by law and desired by the citizenry, crime prevention programming aims to increase public awareness of crime and to instruct the populace in preventive measures to forestall personal victimization. The Federal crime prevention program, undertaken nationwide, spends about 4 pfenning per capita in Germany, as compared to U.S. outlays for prevention at about 6 German marks. In its first year (1979), the nationwide publicity campaign (posters, media ads, flyers, etc.) chose an overall theme (burglary) with quarterly subtopics (apartment break-ins, theft from cars) highlighted by a different specific countermeasure (e.g., install secure locks, lock all doors and windows upon leaving) each month. The program also published an information pamphlet covering the range of preventable crimes and held seminars for journalists to improve press relations and motivate greater media responsiveness. The theme for 1981 was juvenile delinquency, with emphasis on eliminating opportunities for petty crime and on revitalizing the informal social controls over juveniles. Nevertheless, the Federal effort remains fragmented and inadequate, due to insufficient funding. To augment it, Baden-Wuertemberg has allocated resources for special State projects in prevention (drug abuse) and for a prevention specialist's position in police departments, as well as for the operation of prevention advice posts at convenient locations in the community. Baden-Wuertemberg has also successfully run auxiliary campaigns to coincide with the national thrust but targeted to local circumstances and involving the local community. Tabular data are supplied.