NCJ Number
66211
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1980) Pages: 1-5
Date Published
1980
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES STEPS TAKEN BY THE BIRMINGHAM ALA., POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REDUCE CRIME AND FEAR OF CRIME THROUGH COMMUNITY AND POLICE INVOLVEMENT DOWN TO A BLOCK LEVEL.
Abstract
THE MAYOR ESTABLISHED A POLICE/COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMITTEE WITHIN HIS OFFICE AND APPOINTED ALL 16 MEMBERS. THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND TWO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS, A MAYOR'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE, AND A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE ALSO MET WITH THE COMMITTEE. THE COMMITTEE ACTS AS AN INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE, AS AN ADVISORY BOARD TO THE MAYOR AND CHIEF OF POLICE, AND AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN POLICE AND CITIZENS. UNDER ANOTHER AGENCY, THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAM, THE CITY IS DIVIDED INTO 21 MAJOR COMMUNITIES AND 90 NEIGHBORHOODS. THREE COMMITTEES RELAY INFORMATION TO THE COUNCIL. IN ADDITION, EACH OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOUR MAJOR PRECINCTS CONDUCTS A POLICE--CITIZEN PRECINCT MEETING WHICH PARALLELS THE EXISTING COMMUNITY COMMITTEES. MEETINGS EMPHASIZE A TEAM APPROACH TO PROBLEMSOLVING AND ACTIVE CITIZEN SHARING IN THE POLICE FUNCTION. PROBLEMS OF IMPROVED POLICE SERVICE ARE RAISED. A CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT FURNISHES UPDATED INFORMATION ON CRIME IN THE AREA AND MEASURES TO COMBAT CRIME ARE DISCUSSED. THE BASIC ELEMENT OF THE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION PROGRAM, THE NEIGHBORHOOD CITIZEN COMMITTEE, SCHEDULES MONTHLY MEETINGS WITH LOCAL OFFICERS AND POLICE AND CITIZENS EXCHANGE INFORMATION. A BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM WITH APPROPRIATE OFFICERS AND PUBLICITY IS THEN IMPLEMENTED. SUCH A PROGRAM REDUCES THE CRIME RATE AND THE FEAR OF CRIME AND HELPS POLICE IMPROVE THEIR DEPARTMENT'S EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)