NCJ Number
173992
Date Published
1996
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This report frames the problems confronting public safety and crime prevention as identified by the National League of Cities and proposes policies for addressing them.
Abstract
The areas of public safety addressed are crime and violence, substance abuse, municipal fire policy, and disaster preparedness and emergency response. The report advises that the key to the prevention of crime and violence is public safety education. This can be done through such efforts as implementing drug awareness programs, restricting access to guns, increasing recreational programs, returning schools to the "safe haven" they once were, providing children with positive role models, and celebrating positive successes of youth. The report suggests action plans and means of achieving weapons and ammunition control. In discussing youth policies, the report focuses on education, prevention, and intervention, along with juvenile justice. In the latter area, attention is given to juvenile records, sentencing, and corrections. Also discussed under policies to counter crime and violence are domestic violence, the influence of the mass media, and domestic terrorism. Regarding the threat of substance abuse, the report proposes a complete re-evaluation of alcohol and drug abuse policies. The end product of this re-evaluation should be the development of a comprehensive strategy that includes education, treatment, prevention, research, and enforcement. The municipal fire policy includes discussion of the Federal, State, and insurance industry's roles in municipal fire policy; standard setting; and arson control. The policies on disaster preparedness and emergency response focus on prevention and mitigation, disaster insurance, disaster response and recovery, planning and prediction, training and technical assistance, and hazardous and nuclear materials accidents.