NCJ Number
14040
Date Published
1974
Length
51 pages
Annotation
A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE NEED FOR CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, AND AN APPENDIX LISTING SEVERAL ALREADY EXISTING CITIZEN ACTION PROGRAMS.
Abstract
CALL FOR CITIZEN ACTION REPRESENTS SELECTIONS FROM A REPORT PREPARED BY THE COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION TASK FORCE OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS. THIS DOCUMENT ATTACKS WHAT APPEARS TO BE ONE OF THE MAJOR DETERRENTS TO CITIZEN ACTION - THE RELATIVE PAUCITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT (1) THE MANY DIFFERENT CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND (2) THE EXPERIENCES OF CITIZENS -INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY -- WHO HAVE IMPLEMENTED THOSE ACTIVITIES. IT DOES NOT MERELY EXHORT THE READER TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ANTICRIME EFFORTS, IT OUTLINES WHAT CAN BE DONE, WHO HAS DONE IT, AND HOW THEY DID IT. THE FIRST ASPECT OF CITIZEN ACTION TREATED PERTAINS TO THE MANY LEVELS AT WHICH THE PUBLIC MAY PURSUE A CRIME REDUCTION EFFORT. FOR EXAMPLE, A CITIZEN MAY HELP EXOFFENDERS FIND EMPLOYMENT IN HIS CAPACITY AS AN EMPLOYEE OR EMPLOYER, AS WELL AS IN HIS CAPACITY AS A MEMBER OF A PRIVATE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED FOR THAT PURPOSE ALONE. INCLUDED NEXT ARE BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE MANY TYPES OF CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS, FOLLOWED BY A DISCUSSION OF BASIC ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGERIAL QUESTIONS THAT ALMOST ANY CITIZEN GROUP MUST FACE DURING THE COURSE OF ITS FORMATION AND OPERATIONAL LIFE. AN APPENDIX TO THIS REPORT INCLUDES MANY EXAMPLES OF CITIZEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE CRIME PREVENTION ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED EARLIER. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO CATEGORIES -- THOSE THAT DEAL WITH A RELATIVELY WIDE RANGE OF ANTICRIME PROJECTS AND THOSE FOCUSING ON ONE OR TWO ASPECTS OF CRIME PREVENTION. THESE ORGANIZATIONS ARE CITED AS SOURCES OF MORE DETAILED INFORMATION REGARDING CRIME PREVENTION EXPERIENCE. (SNI ABSTRACT)