CITIZEN COPRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY SAFETY (FROM EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE LAW-ENFORCEMENT POLICIES, 1979, BY RALPH BAKER AND FRED A MEYER, JR - SEE NCJ-65735)

• NCJ Number: 65742
• Author(s): S L PERCY
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Grant Number(s): NSF GI-43949
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

CITIZEN COOPERATION IS ESSENTIAL TO CRIME PREVENTION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. SURVEYS IN THREE METROPOLITAN AREAS INDICATE THAT CITIZENS ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN CRIME PREVENTION AND COPRODUCTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

Abstract

CITIZENS, ALONG WITH POLICE, ARE COPRODUCERS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. THEY MAY WORK INDEPENDENTLY, AS GROUPS, OR IN COOPERATION WITH POLICE. THEIR ACTIVITIES MAY VARY FROM INSTALLING HOME BURGLAR ALARMS TO RIDING IN PATROL CARS ALONGSIDE POLICE, FORMING BLOCK GROUPS FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION, LOBBYING, OR SERVING ON POLICE-COMMUNITY COUNCILS. SURVEYS OF CITIZENS IN THREE LARGE METROPOLITAN AREAS SHOW MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY INVOLVED IN MANY TYPES OF COPRODUCTION, INCLUDING HAVING WATCHDOGS, PUTTING IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON PROPERTY, KEEPING FIREARMS, AND OTHERS. TYPES OF COPRODUCTION VARY WITH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS. TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CITIZEN COPRODUCTION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, THE EFFECTS, HISTORY, AND LINKAGE OF COPRODUCTION TO PRESENT COMMUNITY CONDITIONS OR LIFESTYLE SHOULD BE STUDIED. FACTORS AFFECTING COPRODUCTION, SUCH AS CITIZEN CONTRIBUTIONS AND POLICE AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED. NOTES AND TABLES ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)