NCJ Number
250840
Date Published
2012
Length
1 page
Annotation
This fact sheet explains why and how law enforcement agencies should use social media to promote crime prevention.
Abstract
Social media provide law enforcement agencies with access to community residents who have concerns and questions about how they and their family members can reduce the risk for various types of criminal victimization. Websites and social media pages are important platforms for posting crime prevention tips, which may be tailored to crime prevention emphases in various months of the year. Neighborhood Watch Groups can also receive various crime prevention suggestions that address crimes that may be prevalent in particular neighborhoods. Another social media format for crime prevention education is the development of a blog that focuses on crime prevention as a subject for information exchanges and inquiries. An additional suggestion is the hosting of a crime prevention web chat by police leaders in which they interface with residents regarding ways to prevent various types of crime. A podcast - an audio presentation that can be posted to a website and downloaded for playing at the convenience of the user - is another social media platform for engaging people in learning about preventing various crime types.