NCJ Number
60412
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 252-259
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
WAYS IN WHICH THE JAPANESE POLICE INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY IN THE PREVENTION AND SOLUTION OF CRIMES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
ESSENTIALLY, JAPANESE SOCIETY POLICES ITSELF, AND THE POLICE, AWARE OF THIS, CONSCIOUSLY AND SKILLFULLY USE THE COMMUNITY IN CRIME CONTROL. IN RURAL AREAS, POLICE DEPLOYMENT IS BASED ON A SYSTEM OF RESIDENTIAL POLICE BOXES, IN WHICH THE POLICEMAN OF A GIVEN JURISDICTION LIVES WITH HIS FAMILY; IT SERVES AS POLICE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE VILLAGE. THE POLICEMAN KNOWS AND IS KNOWN BY EVERYONE IN THE VILLAGE. HE IS ACCORDED A STATUS OF HONOR ALONG WITH OTHER LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. RURAL POLICE SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME VISITING WITH THE RESIDENTS, AND THEY ARE CAUTIONED BY SUPERIORS NOT TO BE OVERZEALOUS IN ENFORCING THE LAW, RELYING INSTEAD UPON MORAL PERSUASION AND FRIENDLY ADVICE. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, THE RURAL PATTERN OF POLICING CANNOT BE USED. INSTITUTIONALIZED PROGRAMS FOR INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN CRIME PREVENTION IN THE CITIES INCLUDE (1) VISITS BY POLICE TO EVERY HOME IN THEIR JURISDICTION TWICE A YEAR TO UPDATE INFORMATION ON RESIDENTS, SHARE CRIME PREVENTION INFORMATION, AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD; (2) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CRIME PREVENTION ASSOCIATIONS WHICH MOUNT PROGRAMS TO COUNTER PARTICULAR CRIME THREATS IN THE COMMUNITY; AND (3) THE USE OF ABOUT 1 HOUSE IN 50 AS A CRIME PREVENTION CHECKPOINT, THROUGH WHICH POLICE SEND INFORMATION INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEMS. THE POLICE ARE CONCERNED, HOWEVER, ABOUT A MARKED DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CITIZEN TIPS ABOUT CRIMES IN RECENT YEARS. POLICE ARE TRYING TO COUNTER THIS TREND THROUGH THE WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF WANTED POSTERS, REGULAR BROADCASTING OF THE PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF CRIMINALS ON TELEVISION, AND WIDE USE OF AN EMERGENCY TELEPHONE SYSTEM TO REPORT CRIMES OR SUSPICIOUS PERSONS. IN ADDITION, MORE THAN 150,000 VOLUNTEER CITIZEN YOUTH ASSISTANTS HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED NATIONWIDE TO PATROL YOUTH HANGOUTS AND AREAS OF HIGH JUVENILE CRIME. THE POLICE ALSO INVOLVE FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT, AND THE MEDIA TO STOP JUVENILE CRIME AND DELINQUENCY IN THE CITIES. EXAMPLES OF HOW VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND CITIZEN CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS HAVE WORKED EFFECTIVELY ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)