NCJ Number
81605
Date Published
Unknown
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A Mississippi community crime prevention program for eight rural, impoverished counties is described and assessed.
Abstract
Objectives of the Community Anti-Crime Program, which was funded by LEAA for 18 months, were (1) to organize and mobilize residents of local communities and neighborhoods into organizations that could implement, supervise, and evaluate anticrime projects in their areas; (2) to promote and develop community identity and capabilities for local control over crime; (3) to improve cooperation between neighborhood residents and local criminal justice agencies so as to improve crime control; (4) to integrate anticrime efforts into ongoing community development activities, so as to further a comprehensive self-help program for local community agencies that would be crime deterrents; and (5) to reduce crime rates in the targeted areas. All of these objectives were achieved, but at a much slower rate than initially projected. The character of the service area and the community organizing approach required from 4 to 6 months instead of the estimated 2 months. A major problem in evaluation was the absence of statistical data on crime in rural areas; this prevented a comparison of crime rates, reported crimes, and other crime data both before and after program implementation. Although there were no statistics to measure program outcome, all programs were integrated into ongoing community development activities, and all comments by community residents, local leaders, and law enforcement personnel have been positive and supportive. Appended are lists of key persons involved in various project activities and information on workshops sponsored by the project.