NCJ Number
63895
Date Published
1979
Length
335 pages
Annotation
ST LOUIS, MO., COMMUNITY EFFORTS TO RESIST CRIME ARE BASED ON WOMEN'S EFFORTS TO ORGANIZE AND SUPPORT CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN COURTS, POLICE, CORRECTIONS, AND JUVENILE MATTERS.
Abstract
THE ST. LOUIS WOMEN'S CRUSADE AGAINST CRIME IS A CITIZEN'S GROUP MODELED AFTER THE ANTI-CRIME CRUSADE IN INDIANAPOLIS, IND. ST. LOUIS' PROGRAM WAS SEEN AS A FORERUNNER IN THE NATIONAL MOVEMENT OF CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN CRIME FIGHTING BECAUSE IT COVERED THE COURTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, AND JUVENILE PROBLEMS. A JUNE 1975 NATIONAL DISCRETIONARY GRANT BY LEAA ALLOWED THE CONCEPT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO BALTIMORE, MD., SAVANNAH, GA., NEW ORLEANS, LA. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, AND JEFFERSON CITY MO. CRUSADES WERE FLOURISHING IN SEVERAL CITIES WHEN THE NATIONAL GRANT WAS PHASED OUT. THE CRUSADE, AS IMPLEMENTED IN ST. LOUIS, HAS INVOLVED COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS SUCH AS BLOCK WATCH, SENIOR CRIME RESISTANCE, ANTI-FENCING AND ANTI-SHOPLIFTING PROGRAMS, AND OPERATION IDENTIFICATION (PERSONAL PROPERTY). THE CRUSADE'S COURT PROGRAM HAS INCLUDED PROVIDING CITIZENS WITH INFORMATION ON THE COURTS, FOLLOWING LEGISLATION PERTAINING TO THE COURTS AND TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WORKING ON COURT-RELATED PETITION DRIVES, AND MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH COURT PERSONNEL, JUDGES, AND OFFICIALS. CITIZENS' INVOLVEMENT IN CORRECTIONS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY REPRESENTATION ON A BOARD OF JAIL VISITORS, WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. WORK FOR LEGISLATIVE PASSAGE OF ENFORCEABLE HUMANE STANDARDS IN JAILS HAS BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY WORK AS VOLUNTEERS IN CORRECTIONS. PARTICULAR PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED COUNSELING AND TUTORING TO INMATES, EXERCISE AND BALLET CLASSES FOR WOMEN INMATES, PARTIES GIVEN DURING HOLIDAYS, AND UNSUCCESSFUL WORK FOR PASSAGE OF A NEW JAIL BOND ISSUE. OTHER ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORT HAVE INCLUDED WORK FOR IMPROVED POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS, AWARENESS OF PROBLEMS OF RAPE VICTIMS, AND ACTIVITIES WITH CHILDREN. FORMS, MEMOS, LETTERS, FLYERS, AND OTHER MATERIALS USED BY THE CRUSADE ARE REPRODUCED IN THE HANDBOOK. (RFC)