NCJ Number
103310
Editor(s)
J Webster
Date Published
1985
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Based on presentations made at a 1984 National Conference for Crime Prevention Panels, this paper describes a way of identifying local crime patterns, local resources for preventing crime, and the benefits of interagency collaboration.
Abstract
The method proposed for local crime analysis has four steps: selecting an offense for detailed examination, collecting data from police records and other sources such as the media or voluntary organizations, analyzing data, and developing measures either to reduce opportunities or heighten risks for the potential offender. The section on local resources emphasizes that a crime prevention panel provides a setting where contact between the police and the community can occur in a focused, constructive context. Examples illustrate various community resources, such as neighborhood watch groups, crime prevention projects done by school classes, and the local press. Fundraising methods are discussed. A discussion of interagency cooperation addresses school curricula, government agencies dealing with housing and highways, and local voluntary bodies. Other topics covered include obstacles to successful crime prevention and lessons learned from research about the commonly experienced crimes of residential burglary, vandalism, shoplifting, and auto theft.