NCJ Number
120114
Journal
Canadian Police College Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 3 Dated: (1989) Pages: 211-227
Date Published
1989
Length
17 pages
Annotation
To decrease the fear of crime and increase a sense of personal security among citizens, the police must increase contact with them, providing support and helpful information.
Abstract
Police should recontact recent crime victims, ensuring them of continued concern about their needs, informing them about case progress, and providing referral assistance for any victim needs. Police should use newsletters to provide citizens accurate information on crime in their communities, so as to relieve unreasonable fears often generated by exaggerated information from the media. The newsletter should also include crime prevention information and instruction in how to report crime. Another program involving police-citizen contact is called "Citizen Contact Patrol." Police meet with residents of their beats to get acquainted and inquire about their law enforcement concerns. For each citizen contact, officers complete a citizen contact card listing the citizen's name, address, phone number, and any problem mentioned during the visit. A program in urban areas that has facilitated police-citizen contact is the use of decentralized police storefront offices in each community, where citizens can report crime, seek help, and receive information. Crime prevention units are also helpful in developing contacts with citizens to aid them in crime prevention knowledge and activities. 17 footnotes, 9-item bibliography.