NCJ Number
43481
Date Published
1977
Length
136 pages
Annotation
A SITE SURVEY PLUS A NATIONAL MAIL SURVEY FOUND THAT IMPROVED PUBLIC RELATIONS AND BETTER HOME SECURITY WERE PROVEN BENEFITS OF THIS EXTREMELY POPULAR POLICE PROGRAM.
Abstract
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE NATIONAL NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM HAS BEEN UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE DEMAND FOR MATERIALS; AT PRESENT ORDERS EXCEED SUPPLY BY 133 PERCENT. TO EVALUATE THIS 4-YEAR-OLD EFFORT, A NATIONAL SURVEY OF 1049 AGENCIES PLUS AN ONSITE SURVEY CONDUCTED IN MIDDLETOWN, OHIO WERE USED. CURRENTLY 153 POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 121 SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS, AND 40 OTHER AGENCIES ARE USING PHASE 4 MATERIALS; 61.2 PERCENT OF THESE AGENCIES ANSWERED THE MAIL SURVEY. IN ADDITION, 40 PERCENT OF THE 536 AGENCIES WHO HAD USED PHASE 3 MATERIALS REPLIED. POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO THE MATERIALS IN THESE AREAS IS 31-50 MILLION INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS AND 10-17 MILLION THREE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS. BOTH SURVEY REPLIES AND THE ONSITE INTERVIEWS WITH THE 84 SWORN PERSONNEL OF THE MIDDLETOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND 210 OF THE 1300 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH REGISTERED HOUSEHOLD FOUND THAT IMPROVED POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS WERE A PRIMARY BENEFIT. IN ADDITION, A THIRD OF RESPONDENTS DECIDED TO INSTALL BETTER LOCKS. RESPONSES FROM BLACK AND WHITE RESIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. ALL AGE GROUPS SEEMED EQUALLY ENTHUSIASTIC. AS A GROUP, PEOPLE LIVING IN DUPLEXES, TOWNHOUSES, OR CONDOMINIUMS WERE THE MOST RESPONSIVE; PEOPLE WITH INCOMES OVER $25,000, THE LEAST. SEVERAL JUDISDICTIONS REPORTED INCREASED CALLS TO POLICE AND A FEW ATTRIBUTE LOWER BURGLARY RATES TO THE WATCH PROGRAM. THESE CANNOT BE VERIFIED AS EFFECTS BECAUSE OF LACK OF CONTROL GROUPS, BUT THEY DO INDICATE INCREASED CITIZEN AWARENESS. POLICE ALSO CITED THE INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF CITIZEN GROUPS IN PASSING OUT THE MATERIALS AS A POSITIVE BENEFIT. SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE A CITIZEN'S MANUAL EXPLAINING THE PROGRAM IN DEPTH, LARGER TYPE ON THE MATERIALS TO MAKE THEM EASIER FOR OLDER PERSONS TO READ, AND GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF THE ENTIRE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE TRAFFIC DIVISION, TO INCREASE SUPPORT. THE PROGRAM IS DEEMED WELL WORTH FUNDING.