NCJ Number
40550
Journal
INTELLECT Dated: (FEBRUARY, 1977) Pages: 255-257
Date Published
1977
Length
3 pages
Annotation
AFTER REVIEWING THE LIMITATIONS OF POLICE PATROL AND THE CAUSES OF BYSTANDER UNRESPONSIVENESS, THE AUTHOR PROPOSES THAT CITIZENS BE GIVEN RADIO TRANSMITTERS TO REPORT CRIME AND THAT REWARDS BE GIVEN FOR HELPING VICTIMS OF CRIME.
Abstract
PREVENTIVE PATROL BY POLICE IS SEVERELY LIMITED AS A METHOD OF PREVENTING CRIME OR APPREHENDING CRIMINALS, SINCE POLICE ARE RARELY PRESENT AT THE SCENE OF A CRIME AND SINCE CRIMINALS CAN EASILY SHIFT THEIR TARGETS TO LESS GUARDED AREAS. THE MAJOR BURDEN ON STOPPING CRIME MUST BE ON THE ORDINARY CITIZEN WHO COMES ACROSS CRIMES IN HIS NORMAL COURSE OF ACTIVITIES. CITIZENS OFTEN HESTITATE TO BECOME INVOLVED FOR MANY REASONS, INCLUDING FEAR FOR THEIR SAFETY, FEAR OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND DIFFUSION OF RESPONSIBILITY IN LARGE CROWDS. TO OVERCOME THESE BARRIERS, TWO SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE. IT IS PROPOSED THAT A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION OF GIVEN RADIO TRANSMITTERS WHICH CAN BE USED TO REPORT CRIMES. ADVANTAGES OF THIS PROCEDURE COULD BE AN INCREASE IN CRIME REPORTING; AN INCREASE IN THE DETERRENCE OF CRIME BY INCREASING SURVEILLANCE ACTIVITIES; AN INCREASE IN CITIZEN'S FEELINGS OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR CRIME REPORTING; AND REDUCTION OF CITIZENS' DANGER IN COMING TO VICTIMS' AID. IN ADDITION, SINCE ACTUAL PHYSICAL AID TO CRIME VICTIMS OFTEN INVOLVES REAL DANGER TO THE CRIME WITNESS, THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT REWARDS BE GIVEN TO THOSE HELPING CRIME VICTIMS TO ENCOURAGE THIS TYPE OF AID....DMC