NCJ Number
45757
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
A $18,888 GRANT TO THE WILMINGTON POLICE CRIME PREVENTION UNIT FOR EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FORMATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS PROVED SUCCESSFUL.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM CONTAINED FOUR DISTINCT COMPONENTS: (1) ORGANIZATION OF COMMUNITY GROUPS INTO NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAMS IN HIGH CRIME AREAS OF THE CITY; (2) A SENIOR CITIZEN'S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM; (3) 'RAP' SESSIONS WITH YOUTH GROUPS; AND (4) FORMATION OF AN AUXILIARY POLICE UNIT WHICH WOULD PATROL VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS AND REPORT CRIMES OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WATCH GROUP PROJECT WAS TO INSTRUCT AT LEAST 1,400 CITIZENS IN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES. AS OF JULY 31, 1977, A TOTAL OF 16 NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS WERE FORMED; 215 MEETINGS WERE HELD INVOLVING A TOTAL OF 3,313 PERSONS. THE SENIOR CITIZEN MEETINGS WERE SUPPOSED TO INSTRUCT AT LEAST 900 ELDERLY PERSONS IN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES; 31 MEETINGS REACHING 1,114 PERSONS WERE HELD. THE YOUTH SESSIONS, WHICH HOPED TO REACH AT LEAST 600 YOUTH, INVOLVED A FINAL COUNT OF 6,080 YOUTH, MOST REACHED THROUGH THE LOCAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS. THE AUXILIARY POLICE UNIT NEVER WAS FORMED BECAUSE OF CONTROVERSY OVER EQUIPMENT TO BE CARRIED AND LIABILITY INSURANCE PROBLEMS. CRIME RATES FOR THE CITY OF WILMINGTON WERE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY CHANGE SINCE THE PROJECT BEGAN. OVERALL, NUMBER OF CRIMES FOR THE GRANT PERIOD JULY 1, 1976-JUNE 30, 1977 WERE 16 PERCENT FEWER THAN FOR THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD THE YEAR BEFORE AND EACH MONTH SHOWED FEWER CRIMES ON A MONTH-BY-MONTH COMPARISON. THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPENED UP HAVE ALSO MADE CITIZENS MORE WILLING TO REPORT PROBLEMS TO THE POLICE AND GETTING INTO THE COMMUNITY HAS MADE THE POLICE MORE AWARE OF SITUATIONS BEFORE PROBLEMS ESCALATE. (GLR)