NCJ Number
45760
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
A COMMUNITY BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM, CRIME PREVENTION LECTURES, SECURITY SURVEYS, IDENTIFICATION OF POSSESSIONS, A COUNTY CRIME PREVENTION VAN, AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE AMONG PROGRAMS EVALUATED.
Abstract
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND FUNDING OF THE NEW CASTLE COUNTY CRIME PREVENTION UNIT IS PRESENTED, AND THE NATURE OF EACH CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM IS DISCUSSED. THE COMMUNITY BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM PROVIDES FOR RESIDENTS TO PATROL THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS AND REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE POLICE. CRIME PREVENTION LECTURES ARE PRESENTED IN AREA HIGH SCHOOLS AND TO COMMUNITY GROUPS ON SUCH TOPICS AS RAPE, ASSAULT, AND BURGLARY. SECURITY SURVEYS, WHICH CONSIST OF EXAMINING RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL PREMISES AND INFORMING OCCUPANTS OF NEEDED BURGLARY PREVENTION MEASURES, ARE CONDUCTED, AND ENGRAVERS ARE PROVIDED FOR CITIZENS WHO WISH TO NUMBER THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY TO AID IN IDENTIFICATION AND RECOVERY SHOULD THE PROPERTY BE STOLEN. A CRIME PREVENTION VAN, WHICH DISPLAYS CRIME PREVENTION EQUIPMENT SUCH AS ALARMS AND LOCKS, PARKS AT REGULAR INTERVALS IN PUBLIC PLACES FOR VISITS BY CITIZENS. TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT CRIMES ARE AIRED ON AREA RADIO STATIONS, AND IN SEPTEMBER 1976, THE COUNTY SPONSORED A SEMINAR FOR POLICE OFFICERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES. IN CONSIDERING MEASUREMENTS FOR EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS, IT IS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT OBJECTIVE MEASURE WOULD BE THE COMPARISON OF CRIME RATES IN THE JURISDICTION BEFORE AND AFTER PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION. SUCH DATA WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY; HOWEVER, DATA WAS AVAILABLE FOR SELECTED NEIGHBORHOODS WHICH PARTICIPATED IN THE BLOCK WATCH PROGRAM. THIS DATA INDICATES A DROP IN THE REPORTED CRIMES OF ROBBERY, BURGLARY, AND THEFT IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS AFTER THE INSTITUTION OF THE BLOCK WATCH. IT IS NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT CONTROLS WERE NOT SUFFICIENT TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THIS CRIME REDUCTION. SUBJECTIVE MEASURES OF THE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT'S PROGRAMS WERE GAINED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH SUCH PERSONS AS ORGANIZERS OF BLOCK WATCH PROGRAMS, AND OTHER POLICE OFFICERS AND CITIZENS WHO HAD BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE OPERATIONS OF THE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT. SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF THE UNIT WAS STRONG AMONG ALL THOSE SURVEYED. BASED ON THE FACTORS MEASURED, CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT IS URGED. ASSUMING CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE UNIT, THE PRINCIPAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT DATA BE MAINTAINED WHICH WILL PERMIT MORE INTENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM. TABULAR DATA, PROJECT FUNDING INFORMATION, AND A NEW CASTLE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATION CHART ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)