NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM - PHASE 1 REPORT, V 5 TOWARDS INCREASING CITIZEN RESPONSIBILITY, SURVEILLANCE AND REPORTING OF CRIMES

• NCJ Number: 34143
• Author(s): L BICKMAN; S K GREEN; J EDWARDS; S SHANE-DUBOW; P J LAVRAKAS; N NORTH-WALKER; S BORKOWSKI
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 98 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-99-0088
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Loyola University of Chicago
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NATIONAL EVALUATION PROGRAM

Annotation

THIS PAPER OUTLINES THE ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTION OF CITIZEN CRIME REPORTING PROGRAMS AND COVERS BACKGROUND MATERIAL, PAST RESEARCH, HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND VIEWS OF REPORTING/PREVENTION EXPERTS.

Abstract

A PRIMARY ISSUE IN THIS PAPER INVOLVES THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS IN THE AREA OF CRIME PREVENTION IN GENERAL, AND THE ACT OF CRIME REPORTING IN PARTICULAR. THE GENERAL STRUCTURE OF CITIZEN CRIME REPORTING PROGRAMS (CCRP'S) AND THE POSITIVE IMPACTS THEY CAN MAKE IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL ARE COVERED. A MORE DETAILED EXAMINATION OF CCRP'S IS ALSO PRESENTED AND A PRELIMINARY OVERVIEW OF THE TYPES OF PROGRAMS AND THEIR ACTIVITIES IS DISCUSSED. THE TYPES OF CCRP'S DISCUSSED FALL INTO TWO MAJOR CATEGORIES, EACH HAVING THREE PROJECT TYPES. THE FIRST CATEGORY CONSISTS OF PROJECTS WHICH FACILITATE THE MEANS OF REPORTING SUSPICIOUS/CRIMINAL ACTIVITY - WHISTLESTOP, RADIO WATCH, AND SPECIAL TELEPHONE LINE PROJECTS. THE SECOND CATEGORY CONSISTS OF PROJECTS WHICH USE AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH TO ENCOURAGE WITNESS REPORTING OF SUSPICIOUS/CRIMINAL ACTIVITY - GROUP PRESENTATION, MEMBERSHIP, AND HOME PRESENTATION PROJECTS. THIS PAPER ALSO DISCUSSES WHY PEOPLE (WITNESSES AND VICTIMS) DO OR NO NOT REPORT CRIMES, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND FEAR OF CRIME AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, POTENTIAL POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CITIZEN CRIME REPORTING PROGRAMS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND GENERAL ISSUES OF CCRP EVALUATION. A THIRTEEN-PAGE LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (FOR THE OTHER VOLUMES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-34140-42.)