NCJ Number
76808
Date Published
1981
Length
85 pages
Annotation
This report describes and evaluates the rural community crime prevention program conducted in west central Missouri under LEAA funding from April 1978 through January 1981.
Abstract
The Community Anti-Crime Project (CACP) responded to several problems characteristic of rural areas, such as the isolated location of many homes, an understaffed and underpaid sheriff's department, and lack of activities for youth. The area also experienced increased traffic and crime in lake recreational areas during the summer, and child abuse cases were a growing concern. Goals and objectives during the first grant period from 1978 through October 1979 focused on public information and education programs, assistance to elderly residents, block watches, farm and road watches, and involvement of teens in anticrime projects. While these activities continued in the second grant period, CACP also addressed growing property crime and the inadequate resources of local law enforcement agencies. Property marking and security surveys were instituted, and in-school crime prevention curriculum was developed, and selected community groups were given seed money to start or expand anticrime activities. An assessment of the CACP emphasizes its efforts to gain cooperation from local police and the increasing involvement of these officials as the program progressed. CACP also developed supportive relationships with senior citizen groups, planning commissions, educational institutions, community organizations, and businesses. The CACP had trouble finding educational materials on crime prevention that related to the rural setting and eventually developed their own slide sets. Because many residents regarded crime as an urban problem, it was difficult to organize neighborhood watch groups. Overall the CACP was a success, particularly in funding community groups that could assume the crime prevention activities and expanding police involvement with crime prevention. The appendixes describe the seed money contracts given to local organizations and list materials produced by CACP along with additional sources of films, slides, and brochures. CACP's annual reports are attached.