NCJ Number
116981
Date Published
1989
Length
23 pages
Annotation
National crime prevention efforts have focused on an educational campaign through the media and the structuring of intergovernmental cooperation in crime prevention efforts.
Abstract
In 1977 a group that included government policymakers, labor leaders, philanthropists, and law enforcement won U.S. Justice Department support for a national effort to foster citizen involvement in crime prevention. In cooperation with the Advertising Council, Inc., a symbol for the media effort was selected; McGruff, the Crime Dog, provides authoritative but nonthreatening advice on crime prevention for both children and adults. When McGruff was introduced to the public in February 1980, 19 national and Federal organizations announced the formation of the Crime Prevention Coalition, that promotes citizen crime prevention education and involvement. The coalition has added 107 national and statewide organizations to its roster in less than 9 years. Many State programs serve as conduits for funding through the Federal Justice Assistance Act. Such programs include crime prevention training, technical assistance, crime prevention through environmental design, and neighborhood watch. At the national level, the Justice Department has for 5 years sponsored Roundtables at which State leaders of crime prevention programs and associations assemble for training, briefings, and information exchange. A substantial amount of the national crime prevention effort is generated through the National Crime prevention Council, with substantial support provided by the Justice Department. This private, nonprofit organization, created in 1982, is a nongovernmental home for the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign and the advertising and support required for that effort. The use of national demonstration sites has also had a vital role in developing new crime-prevention approaches.