Crime Prevention

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Crime Prevention

• A Project of
• Southern University at New Orleans
• Universities Rebuilding America Partnerships
• U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development
• George Amedee, Ph.D., Project Director
• Author
• John Penny, Ph.D. Th.D.
• Chair, Department of Social Sciences

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CRIME PREVENTION DEFINED
Crime prevention is any initiative or policy
which reduces or eliminates the aggregate level
of victimization or the risk of individual
criminal participation. It includes government
and community based programs to reduce the
incidents of risk factors correlated with
criminal participation and the rate of
victimization, as well as efforts to change
perceptions.
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Current Trends in Crime

• The crime rate is increasing.
• Teenagers are responsible for a
  disproportionate share of violent crime.
• The median age of a criminal
• is dropping.
• A majority of the crimes are committed by
  Habitual criminals.
• Most criminals are not caught or convicted.

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Black on Black Murders

• Homicide among blacks has reached epidemic
  proportions.
• African Americans are six times more likely to be
  murdered than whites.
• Nearly two thirds of black homicides are drug
  related.
• Homicide is the leading cause of death for
  African American men between ages 15 and 24.

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Violence Prevention and Education for Children

• Teaches youth violence control and problem
  solving.
• Youth need specific skills to combat violent
  influences in their lives.
• Encourage families to use violence prevention
  and communication skills.
• Church, youth groups, recreation, and community
  programs must promote violence prevention and
  positive decision-making.
• Form private and local government sponsored youth
  programs.

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Building a Stronger Neighborhood Watch

• Neighborhood watch is a crime prevention program
  stressing education
• and common sense and teaches citizens how to
  help themselves.
• Neighborhood watch involves identifying and
  reporting suspicious activities in your
  neighborhood to improve safety and the quality
  life for residents.

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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH FOCUS

• Neighborhood watch focuses on observation and
  awareness as a means of preventing crime.
• Employs strategies that range from promoting
  social interaction and watching out for each
  other to active patrols by grouping of citizens.

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What NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH ACCOMPLISHES

• Coming together and identifying common interests
  and shared values.
• Fosters a renewed sense of pride and belonging in
  your communities.
• Sustains communication with the police and a
  home base.

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STEPS IN STARTING

• Map out a specific neighborhood for strategizing.
  
• Incorporate neighborhood involvement to identify
  ways to address crime patterns in an area.
• Build partnerships between law enforcement
  officers and residents.
• Be sure police understand the needs of your
  neighborhood and serve as role models for youth.
  

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OTHER STEPS

• Continually assess the needs your neighborhood.
• Unite law enforcement and residents.
• Encourage collective determination of what
  problem should be addressed and how.
• Select and train an active body of volunteers.
• Select organized and motivated leaders.
• Develop meaningful projects.

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Private Security

• Create and embark upon new projects.
• Establish a goal toward which the team is
  aspiring.
• Projects include building a neighborhood
  playground and
• painting over graffiti.

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Private Security

• Cover both sides of a street and proceed around
  the block.
• Can be divided into sub units.
• Foot patrollers should have radios and cell
  phones.
• Volunteers may also want to wear indentifying
  clothing.
• A log or report sheet should be maintained
  documenting any activities.

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Mobile Patrols

• Cover a larger area but tend not to provide as
  intense surveillance on any given block.
• Use of a car or bicycle.
• Designated with the name and insignia of the
  patrol or planned route.
• Two people should be in the car.
• Some patrols have a flashing light on the roof so
  that it can be identified at night.
• Check with your local police department for
  details.

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Bicycle Patrols

• The bicycle should have proper equipment.
• Bear the name and insignia of the group.
• Get the bicycles marked or etched and identified
  by your local police department to deter
  vandalism and theft.
• Riders should travel in groups and work with the
  police.
• A planned route should be mapped and
  communication must be maintained.

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School Patrols

• Employ parents, grandparents, business people and
  retirees to guard areas around the school with
  walkie talkies or radios.
• Ensure that children proceed to school safely and
  on time.
• Can be on duty guarding as well as stranger
  danger.
• Work with the school administration.

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Window Watcher project

• Utilize the time and energy of seniors.
• Ask them to keep a watch from their windows at
  various times.
• Ask them to report any suspicious activity or
  noise to the home base and the police.
• Help with mailings and other organizational
  tasks.

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Training

• All patrollers need to know how to recognize
  suspicious activity and sounds.
• The techniques of obtaining and accurate
  description of a suspect or vehicle.
• Give an accurate description of the location.
• Trained and instructed on how to request
  assistance from police.
• Should not take any risks to prevent a crime or
  to facilitate an arrest.

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Crime Mapping

• Advancement in computer technology.
• Form of computer software to collect data about
  crime incidents and display that information on
  maps.
• Maps depict neighborhoods streets, and use
  geometric shapes to indicate the location of
  recent criminal activity.
• Police department provides district maps.
• Can be done manually.

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Technology and Security

• Video surveillance systems passively record and
  play back video at certain intervals.
• Can be actively monitored by security personnel.
  
• Volunteers and private security are also
  involved.

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Home Security Cost Measures

• To get the best security at a reasonable cost,
• research what type of security you want.
• Then determine how much you are willing to
  spend.
• KEY questions
• What is the primary reason for your interest in a
  home security system?
• Is your home currently monitored by a security
  company?
• Is your home pre wired for a security system?
• What type of home security system are you
  interested in?
• Are you interested in professional installation
  services for this home security system?
• How many entrances does your home have?
• What is the approximate square footage of your
  home?
• What is your buying timeframe for this home
  security system?

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KEY QUESTIONS ON SECURITY SYSTEMS

• What is the primary reason for your interest in a
  home security system?
• Is your home currently monitored by a security
  company?
• Is your home pre wired for a security system?
• What type of home security system are you
  interested in?
• Are you interested in professional installation
  services for this home security system?
• How many entrances does your home have?
• What is the approximate square footage of your
  home?
• What is your buying timeframe for this home
  security system?

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Edited By

• Stephanie Jordan
• Project Coordinator
• SUNO-URAP
• May 2009

Joey Corley Student Researcher Olubenga Rotimi
Akanji