NCJ Number
224966
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 56 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 83-85
Date Published
October 2008
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes Collier County, Florida’s efforts to secure and clean up abandoned homes to prevent crime and protect property values through a community-wide effort known as “Community Safety Teams.”
Abstract
Due to the difficult economic times and the collapse of risky mortgages, law enforcement is faced with a new and potentially dangerous enemy: vacant or abandoned homes. Communities across the Nation are seeing deserted homes in greater numbers than ever in neighborhoods of all socioeconomic levels. These vacant homes become magnets for squatters, thieves, and teens looking for a place to party. Collier County Sheriff’s Office in Southwest Florida has launched a program to keep vacant homes from becoming havens for crime, “Community Safety Teams.” This program is made up of law enforcement, neighborhood residents, homeowner associations, business owners, mortgage holders, code enforcement officers, the local chamber of commerce, and other volunteers. The program’s philosophy is modeled after the ‘Broken Windows’ theory promoting fixing problems while they are small, such as repairing broken windows, painting over graffiti, and clearing out trash. This article describes the effectiveness of Community Safety team members in keeping neighborhoods in Collier County safe.