NCJ Number
60630
Date Published
1979
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THIS PROGRESS REPORT DISCUSSES THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF THE MEQUON, WIS, POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT, FUNDED BY A $36,000 GRANT FROM THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE (WCCJ).
Abstract
THE GRANT RUNS FROM OCTOBER 31, 1978 TO OCTOBER 31, 1979, AND COSTS $2.26 PER CITIZEN OF MEQUON, WIS. GOAL OF THE MEQUON CRIME PREVENTION PROJECT IS TO REDUCE THE RATE OF BURGLARY AND THEFT AND INCREASE CLEARANCE FOR BOTH CRIMES. BETWEEN 1974 AND 1977, MEQUON'S PROPERTY CRIME RATE INCREASED 10 PERCENT, COMPARED TO 5 PERCENT FOR THE STATE AND 7 PERCENT FOR CITIES OF SIMILAR SIZE. MEQUON'S ARREST RATE FOR THEFT, ITS MOST COMMON PROPERTY CRIME, WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN FOR THE STATE. CRIME PREVENTION-PROJECT ACTIVITIES HAVE FOCUSED ON LOCAL SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES, AND CONSTRUCTION SITES. MEETINGS HAVE BEEN HELD; PAMPHLETS ENTITLED OPERATION ID AND HOW TO BUNGLE A BURGLARY HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED TO CITIZENS; AND BIMONTHLY RADIO BROADCAST ENTITLED COP SHOP IS BEING PRODUCED, AND SECURITY SURVEYS ARE BEING CONDUCTED. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES NOTED IN THE ORIGINAL GRANT PROPOSAL BUT NOT YET UNDERTAKEN INCLUDE A CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH, WATCH ON WHEELS, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SCHOOL-LEVEL COURT FOR STUDENT OFFENDERS. PROJECT STAFF HAVE SPENT MUCH TIME REVISING THE DEPARTMENT'S AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PLAN, WHICH WAS FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE ACCORDING TO WCCJ POLICY. THE DEPARTMENT HAS DONE SOME PREPARATION FOR FUTURE PROJECT ACTIVITIES. FOOTNOTES, TABLES, GRAPH, APPENDIXES ON WCCJ-FUNDED PROJECTS, AND A QUESTIONNAIRE ON MEQUON'S CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)