NCJ Number
78167
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 29 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1981) Pages: 58-65
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A police officer describes the content and implementation of a program developed by the crime prevention unit of Connecticut's Branford Police Department to increase awareness of crime prevention among school children, especially those in elementary school.
Abstract
In 1975 the department chose to expand services in the area of crime prevention and decided that the concepts of crime prevention could be most effectively presented through the educational system. In cooperation with the Parent-Teacher Association, the crime prevention unit developed a program for students enrolled in kindergarten through grade four. In addition, presentations by the crime prevention officer were given at the intermediate school and the high school periodically during the year. The program had six goals: to use peer group pressure constructively, to identify potential delinquent behavior in the early school years, to explore the television image of violence, to deal with adults' warnings which are often given without adequate explanation, to eliminate the child's inquisitive challenge of adults, and to link all segments of the community around the student. Curriculum topics included major functions of the police, police roles as depicted on television, ways to deal with strangers, telephone demeanor, vandalism, bicycle and school bus safety, and drug education. Each curriculum area is reviewed. The article includes five photographs.