Prevention Works

Taking Neighborhood Watch to a New Level

Neighborhood Watch (NW) is a proven, recognizable, and structured way for communities to make and keep themselves safe.  It can build community spirit, camaraderie with neighbors, stronger relationships with law enforcement and area businesses, and safer homes and streets. NW has been around for decades, but since 9/11, communities with active NW programs have been encouraged to assist and provide support to homeland security efforts.  Communities have been encouraged to develop an evacuation plan, create a neighborhood directory with phone numbers and email addresses, help neighbors develop emergency preparedness plans, discuss local warning systems and the location of temporary shelters in case of emergencies, and discuss potential terrorist targets in or near the community.

If your NW group is thriving and looking to take its activities to the next level, consider this new approach for your NW group.  First responders make up only 1 percent of the U.S. population.  When disasters strikes, such as tornadoes (Tuscaloosa and Joplin, spring 2011), hurricanes (Katrina, 2005 and Irene, 2011), flooding (Mississippi River, 2011) and snow (Alaska, 2012), the first responders and agencies such as FEMA and the Red Cross can be overwhelmed. Your NW group could assist in recovery efforts by partnering with Citizen Corps and be trained in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) curriculum, which includes fire safety, first aid/triage, emergency preparedness, disaster psychology, organization, and terrorism.  Citizen Corps was created to support the Department of Homeland Security to mobilize the country against threats to national security and assist in the recovery after a disaster or terrorist attack. 

Your NW group can be a vital player in assisting Americans during their time of need. Your group can undertake activities such as creating partnerships with the local business owners to create a directory similar to one developed for your NW community and planning activities year-round to correspond with Crime Prevention Month events in October. NW can organize around may topics, not just crime.  Your group could consider seasonal needs, including weather events or tourist season; year-round celebrations, including Celebrate Safe Communities, www.celebratesafecommunities.org, events; terrorism prevention; and medical emergencies (don’t forget to check on the elderly in your community.)  To learn more about Citizen Corps visit www.citizencorps.gov.  To find assessments and information to enhance your NW , visit NCPC’s home and neighborhood safety pages under the “Resources” tab.

To find out more about taking your NW group to a new level and partnering with Citizen Corps program, download this podcast interview with Tami Wyrick, executive director of the Virginia Crime Prevention Association.

Monopoly Money

Let’s face it; in times of economic hardship, we could all use just a little bit more money.

Something to set aside, something to pay the bills, or even, dare I say, something to splurge on a vacation. In a society where money makes the world go around, many of us have been standing still for quite some time. So, when you need more money, what do you do? Get another job? Work a few hours of overtime? Or how about removing the ink on a five dollar bill and reprinting it as a one-hundred dollar bill? One of these things is not quite like the others, but sadly, it’s still true.

Throughout the United States, and most recently in the Milwaukee Metro area, businesses have been victims of counterfeit currency transactions. Perpetrators are bleaching five dollar bills clean of ink, and then printing over the real money with larger denominations such as twenty, fifty, or even one-hundred dollar bills. Unfortunately, what’s fast money for some is hard earned money for others and not just the businesses, but every employee that works for them.  Thankfully, there are a few tips and precautions that business operators and clerks can take to prevent themselves from falling victim to counterfeiters.

• Now that you’re aware, be on the lookout for any suspicious bills.
• In addition to the standard security pen test, hold the bill up to the light and look for the watermark on the right hand side of the bill every time.
• Don’t be afraid to contact your local police department or manager if you’re unsure about a suspicious looking bill.

For more information about counterfeit money, visit www.wiccrimeprevention.com.

An Inside Look at Reentry

Reentry is a widespread term used to refer to concerns related to the transition of offenders from prison and other institutions to community supervision.[i] Crime prevention practitioners further expands the concept of reentry to include the use of programs targeted at promoting the effective reintegration of offenders back to communities upon release from institutions, such as community-based detention, rehabilitation and recovery programs, prison and jail. Reentry programming, which often involves a comprehensive case management approach, is intended to assist offenders in acquiring the life skills needed to succeed in the community and become law-abiding citizens. A variety of programs are used to assist offenders in the reentry process, including pre-release programs, drug rehabilitation, vocational training, and work programs.

Nearly 650,000[ii] people are released from state and federal prison yearly and arrive on the doorsteps of communities nationwide. Far greater numbers reenter communities from local jails, and for many offenders and defendants, this may occur multiple times in a year. According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) study of 15 states, more than two-thirds of state prisoners released from incarceration were re-arrested and more than half returned to prison within three years of their release. Over the past three decades, the correctional population has increased from approximately 1.8 million in 1980 to more than 7.2 million in 2009, with the majority (70 percent) under the supervision of community corrections (probation or parole). The total national-, federal-, and state-level direct expenditures for corrections (including community corrections) were $74 billion in 2007.

While these numbers are astounding, law enforcement professionals, government officials, and communities around the nation are committed to developing programs and strategies to reduce the recidivism amongst non-violent offenders by addressing these barriers—education/skills, medical care/substance abuse treatment, employment, housing, and family reunification. A recent response to these efforts is the passage of the Second Chance Act by Congress, which will restore funding to continue to develop and implement initiatives central to offenders’ personal and skill development. With all of these entities working together, we can be successful in addressing the reentry challenges that non-violent offenders have and help them to make a successful transition back into society.

 

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[i] Center for Court Innovation

[ii] Bureau of Justice Statistics

Holiday Decorations Are Up and So Are Charity Scams

The holidays are known as “the giving season.” It is a time when the amount of donations to charities and organizations increase. People are often more soft-hearted about giving during the holidays than any other time of year. Donations range from clothing, money, and sometimes even property. While donating is a great way to give back, donors should use caution when deciding to whom and what to donate. The holiday season is a time when criminals prey on the generosity of donors. Charity scams are the highest during this season. Criminals use this opportunity to set up money scams and even fake charities, leaving donors clueless and resulting in lost profit for a charity in need.

Here are five ways to avoid charity scams this holiday season:

• Research the charity- Be sure that it is a charity that you can trust or a charity that is familiar to you. Consider asking friends and family for suggestions, but still do your homework by calling or checking out the website. Look for past accomplishments and years in business. The larger the donation, the longer you should think about it before transferring funds to a charity.
• Don’t give in to pressure to give on the spot- Do not give on the spot, whether it is by phone, with a credit card, or a runner coming to get the donation. The charity that needs your gift today will welcome it tomorrow. Ask for a pledge card instead, this will give you time to do your research.
• Never give out credit card information over the phone- If a solicitor claims that the charity will support a local organization that you are familiar with, this is not a green light to give all of your information. Do not give your credit card or any other banking information over the phone. Call the charity in question directly to verify the claim. Phony charities will use familiar names of charities that are located in the area code that donors are calling from so that it appears that contributions are going to support local causes. People like to help their neighbors, especially during the holidays, and scam artists won't hesitate to exploit a donor’s kindness.
• Make your monetary contributions by check- When giving a monetary donation, use a check instead of cash. This is the most secure method of tracking your donations. Be sure to make your checks payable to the charity and not to an individual.
• Check the IRS and Better Business Bureau-. Most states require charities to register and file annual reports showing how they use donations. Ask your state or local consumer protection agency how to get this information. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance also offers information about national charities. You can check www.give.org  for more information. 

Pact360 Can Help You Talk With Children And Youth About Drugs and Alcohol

Celebrate Safe Communities (CSC) connects local people with local law enforcement to address local issues, creating a safer and healthier environment for communities and families.  As a supporter of this initiative, The Partnership at Drugfree.org offers additional outlets that assist communities on a local level.  Our PACT360 Community Education program supports families’ efforts to talk with their kids about alcohol and other drugs and get help in their communities if they need it.  The materials in this program are designed to be presented at a grassroots level and help address community-specific substance abuse issues.

PACT360 contains five key programs, which are designed to provide parents with a “360-degree” view of existing and emerging drug and alcohol issues:

• Meth360 is a presentation that explains how methamphetamine affects individuals, families and communities.  It also identifies actions that can be taken to prevent use and abuse of this drug.
• Parents360 identifies some of the reasons why kids use drugs and what parents can do to respond to a problem in their own teens.
• Youth360 is a unique program that combines powerful storytelling and an interactive game to get kids thinking about the consequences of drug use and of their negative actions.
• Latino360 and Padres360 are versions of the Meth360 and Parents360 presentations that have been translated into Spanish and acculturated for a Hispanic audience.

Community members can select which PACT360 resources and components are most useful and most needed to help them address substance abuse issues in their neighborhoods.  Thanks to support from the U.S. Department of Justice, the program is available free of cost to any who wish to use it.

While PACT360 is a national program, it comes to life at the local level, where local law enforcement, education and treatment professionals combine their firsthand experience with the presentations and information provided by The Partnership at Drugfree.org.  To date, over 37,000 people have viewed these presentations and committed to sharing the information with their communities.  Thanks to the program, thousands of local communities are being helped and educated about substance abuse issues—and that is something worth celebrating!

To learn more about the program, or to obtain program materials and presentations, visit the PACT360 website.

Halloween Safety on Campus

We all know the Halloween parties that are hosted on campus grounds each year can get hectic sometimes. Heck we probably attended one that ended up in a disaster because safety measures weren’t considered. This year before you attend Halloween parties on campus please consider these safety tips below and the party will be a blast!

1)      Go with a group of friends you know and trust

2)      Make sure someone is monitoring who is entering the party.

3)      Make sure the door is locked at all times

4)      Be cautious when approaching strangers in costume.

5)      Beware of impersonators

6)      Report any suspicious activity

7)      If drinking, don’t leave your drink unattended, and never accept a drink from someone you don’t know.

8)      Use the buddy system when walking around campus.

9)      Make a plan to get home safely if you’re not staying on campus.

10)  Put an emergency number in your cell phone such as campus security, your friend’s and maybe even your friend’s roommate. If you get lost or separated, you’ll want to know who to call. Also, carry your cell phone on you at all times.

11)  Don’t drink excessively, know your limit.

As long as you follow these tips your Halloween party should go well without any unnecessary safety distractions. For more information please visit www.ncpc.org .

Start Snitching: The Social Taboo of Crime Reporting

The best way to protect ourselves from being victims of crime is to take preventative measures, and to report crimes that are known or witnessed. The task of reporting seems easy to most, but criminals and their associates go to great lengths to keep that from happening. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “snitch” means “to inform, tattle” (2011). Stop Snitching campaigns have grown strength in the past couple of decades, popularized by the entertainment industry. Phrases like “Snitches End Up in Ditches” or “Snitches End Up with Stitches” indicate that reporting a crime will result in physical harm, injury, or death. With consequences like that, it’s no wonder there is a fear to cooperate with law enforcement officials.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) released a report in 2009 that offered several suggestions for officers in breaking the silence. Though the strategies are targeted for law enforcement personnel, they can be utilized by the general public as well. The strategies suggested were not specific to the type of crime committed, but rather overall tips on how to encourage reporting.

• Meet with neighborhood associations to initiate a counteractive campaign (COPS, 2009). A counteractive campaign on this topic would be referred to a “Start Snitching” campaign, which encourages community members to share information on criminal activity. If an association is not available, consider forming one, like Neighborhood Watch. Reporting crime individually may seem intimidating, but with an organized backing, more people may be willing to come forth.

• For those of you in the law enforcement field, increase police presence in high-crime areas (COPS, 2009). The increased visibility of officers will help the community members feel supported and guarded, thus encouraging a more cooperative relationship between law enforcement and the public. If you are not a member of law enforcement, contact your local authorities to see about getting an increased presence in your neighborhood.

• Support community members who want to report crimes but fear retaliation by providing a way to submit anonymous tips (COPS, 2009).

• Debunk the stereotype of snitching. Educate the public on the difference between reporting criminal activity and “tattling.”

For more information on crime reporting, check out more resources at Celebrate Safe Communities as we celebrate Crime Prevention Month.

Volunteers in Police Service Support Crime Prevention

At the Volunteers in Police Service Program (VIPS), we agree that safe communities are a thing to celebrate. VIPS is proud to partner with the National Crime Prevention Council and Celebrate Safe Communities to not only educate residents about crime prevention, but also recognize the work of dedicated law enforcement volunteers who offer their time on a daily basis to help prevent crime and promote public safety.

There are more than 244,000 law enforcement volunteers supporting more than 2,180 state, local, tribal, and campus VIPS Programs. We know the actual number of volunteer programs is much higher. Volunteers support many different facets of law enforcement work, including investigations, chaplaincy, code enforcement, and property management. One of the most significant areas in which volunteers provide support is crime prevention.  

Examples of volunteer crime prevention activities include:

• Performing vacation home checks for traveling residents
• Completing property security surveys with home and business owners
• Planning and supporting community public safety events
• Assisting with D.A.R.E. and other youth outreach events
• Speaking about crime prevention topics to civic and neighborhood groups
• Joining or leading a Neighborhood Watch
• Conducting citizen patrols in neighborhoods, businesses, and school grounds by car, bike, or foot

Are you ready to become a law enforcement volunteer?

Not all of the activities listed above are available in all jurisdictions, but there are likely many exciting and rewarding opportunities in your own community.

Visit www.policevolunteers.org/programs to search the VIPS Program Directory for law enforcement volunteer programs near you. The directory can be searched by zip code, state, and keyword.  On each listing, you will find a profile of the program and contact information for the volunteer program manager. If your local agency is not listed, try calling the department directly, as they may have volunteer opportunities that are not listed on the national website.

If you are a law enforcement agency looking to start or enhance your volunteer program, visit www.policevolunteers.org for access to a variety of publications, an information sharing listserv, and the Building Blocks of a Law Enforcement Volunteer Program E-learning Course.

For questions about volunteering with or implementing a law enforcement volunteer program, email info@policevolunteers.org or call 1-800-THE-IACP.

To hear more about VIPS crime prevention efforts, listen to the latest edition of the VIPS Monthly Podcast Series, This October, Celebrate Safe Communities.

The Volunteers in Police Service Program is managed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

National Crime Prevention Month Home Safety Post By Kwikset

5 Simple Ways to Improve the Safety of Your Home

National Crime Prevention Month is upon us once again and we have a month packed full of events and resources to help you and your community improve safety and security both at home and away.

This first week of October kicks off the month with a focus on home safety. Kwikset®, the leader in innovative residential door hardware, is excited to join forces with the National Crime Prevention Council to help improve the safety and security of your home with smart, simple solutions.  

You don’t have to completely overhaul your home to ensure your family is safe and secure. Here are five simple ways you can improve your home’s safety today:
 
1.    Make sure you have effective locks that are being used. Remember that not all locks are created equal. For maximum protection, choose high security locks. For example, SmartKey® deadbolts by Kwikset have been rated a Consumer Reports “Best Buy” and feature BumpGuard technology that protects against lock bumping, drilling and picking. Even the best locks can’t protect you if you don’t use them.
2.    Do some yard work before you leave the house for an extended period of time.  Trim your hedges and bushes so thieves won’t have a chance to hide out, and you won’t give the impression your home has been left unattended and vacant.
3.    Remember to secure your spare. Leave your spare key with a trusted neighbor. Never hide it on the property. Keyless entry locks such as Kwikset SmartCode are also a great option. Burglars have more experience looking for keys than you do hiding them.
4.    Let there be light. Be sure all outside entrances of the home are well lit.  A timer or solar-powered light on the front, back and side of the house make it difficult for burglars to hide.
5.    Keep status updates safe. Think twice before posting upcoming vacations on Facebook, Twitter or any other social media outlet.  You’d be surprised how fast information can travel on the information highway—and sometimes to the wrong computer screen. Instead, use the power of wireless technology to protect your home with safety innovations like Kwikset SmartCode with Home Connect™ Technology, to monitor who enters and exits your home right from your smartphone or secure internet connection.

For more information about products and security solutions for your home visit kwikset.com.

Schools and Gangs

It’s that time of year again when children are back in school.  With school comes education, sporting events, club activities, and social events such as homecoming.  However, with school also comes the possibility of kids recruiting for gangs.  According to the National Gang Center’s National Youth Gang Survey of 2009, the number of jurisdic­tions with gang problems and the number of gangs increased more than 20 percent from 2002 to 2009, with both indica­tors recording a 5 percent increase in more recent years (www.nationalgangcenter.gov, June 2011). It is important for school resource officers, school administrators, and educators to work cohesively with law enforcement personnel, parents, and youth to create an atmosphere where gang recruitment and activity is unacceptable and unwelcomed and has clear adverse consequences.

 There are many ways for schools to integrate gang prevention education and create a positive alternative to gangs.

•  Educate young people and parents on the dangers and consequences of gang involvement to include knowing the signs of gang activity, understanding gang characteristics, and ensuring safety when reporting gang activity on school grounds.

• If your school has a dress code, make sure it prohibits any clothing or symbols that suggest gang membership.  And enforce it.

• Make sure your school is declared a safety zone and designated as a drug-free and gun-free site.  Criminal violations within these zones are serious and carry stiff fines and penalties.

• Engage students in positive activities and encourage club membership, afterschool activities, community service, or service-learning projects.  By allowing students to select, plan, and execute a project that addresses a concern or issue within their school or community, they gain empowerment over the issue and the feeling that their ideas are valued and make a difference.

Schools should be safe havens where children come and learn.  Through positive partnerships, open communication, and encouragement, we can ensure that this school year is a successful one for us all.