NCJ Number
49887
Editor(s)
R ALLWORTHWALES D
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILM IS INTENDED FOR USE BY EDUCATORS, POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENTS, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND SHOWS WHAT SEVERAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF VANDALISM.
Abstract
THE FILM DEPICTS HOW SIX DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HAVE CONFRONTED WILLFUL DESTRUCTION AND VIOLENCE IN THEIR AREAS. LOCAL LEADERS HAVE TAKEN THE INITIATIVE IN EACH OF THE COMMUNITIES AND FOUND SOLUTIONS TO VANDALISM -- IN LARGE CITIES LIKES PITTSBURGH, PA., WHERE SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED IN VANDALISM PATROLS; IN SEATTLE, WASH., WHERE A STUDENT VANDALISM COMMITTEE CONDUCTS HEARINGS ON CASES OF VANDALISM; AND IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF., WHERE A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL INVOLVED PARENTS AND TEACHERS IN AN ANTIVANDALISM CAMPAIGN. IN SMALLER URBAN AREAS, SUCH AS BILLINGS, MONT., STUDENTS WERE GIVEN A CHANCE TO WORK IN THE CAFETERIA, OFFICE AND LIBRARY IN ORDER TO INSTILL IN THEM A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT VANDALISM. THE SUBURBAN AREA OF WAUWATOSA, WISC., CONDUCTED A VANDALISM AWARENESS PROGRAM, WHERE OLDER STUDENTS TALKED TO THE YOUNGER STUDENTS ABOUT VANDALISM; AND IN BERRIEN COUNTY, MICH., A PEER GROUP COUNSELING PROGRAM IS USED TO COUNTERACT VANDALISM. THESE PROGRAMS HAVE YIELDED DEFINITE COST SAVINGS AS WELL AS LESS TANGIBLE BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE SIGNIFICANT RESULTS, SUCH AS DIVERTING YOUTH FROM DESTRUCTIVE PURSUITS TOWARD PRODUCTIVE ACTIVITY. POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THESE PROGRAMS IS THE FACT THAT THE SOLUTIONS WERE NOT HANDED DOWN FROM WASHINGTON OR STATE CAPITALS, BUT WERE DEVELOPED IN THE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES BY LOCAL PEOPLE THEMSELVES. RURAL, URBAN, AND SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES HAVE EACH BEEN ABLE TO MEET AND DEVISE INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO SOLVE THEIR OWN VANDALISM PROBLEMS. THE FILM IS INTENDED TO SPARK ENTHUSIASM FOR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FIGHT VANDALISM.