Prevention Works

Strategies That Might Have Prevented the Richmond, CA, Homecoming Rape

The recent mass rape of a 15-year-old girl outside her Richmond, CA, high school homecoming dance has sent us searching for an understanding of this brutal crime. The National Crime Prevention Council expresses its sympathy to the victim, her family, and their community.

The National Crime Prevention Council maintains that countless crimes each year could be prevented and avoided. The Richmond, CA, rape case speaks volumes to that belief. While struggling to make sense of the human motivation behind this victimization, we turn to two crime preventing strategies that, had they been applied, could have prevented or, at the very least, mitigated the crime that occurred on the grounds of the high school that Saturday night.

The first crime prevention strategy is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED.) CPTED principles are used to asses a physical site, plant, facility, business, home, neighborhood, or community to reduce or remove identifiable crime risks. That this assault occurred in an area of the campus that was under lighted, under patrolled, and out of view of those who might monitor the campus makes it a candidate for a CPTED assessment. These types of crimes are not as prevalent when crime prevention architecture with appropriate lighting and clear sightlines are designed into the campus plan.

The second strategy is embodied by Neighborhood Watch. Since 1972, Neighborhood Watch has encouraged citizens to organize themselves and work with law enforcement to keep a trained eye and ear on their communities. At its most visible, Neighborhood Watch groups conduct regular patrols and enlist neighbors and businesses to be proactive in preventing crime. The most significant benefit of Neighborhood Watch is that it attunes citizens to be in a crime prevention mode, taking note of indicators or potential trouble spots in a neighborhood, before crime occurs. The Neighborhood Watch-type group in a community near the Richmond high school has stepped forward to assist with patrols of the high school campus during events in the future, such as the homecoming dance.  The Neighborhood Watch group is to be congratulated for going above and beyond to help out in the future. High school administrations nationwide might do well to consider partnering with such a resource for their communities.

This horrific crime is destined to become a landmark case. Let’s hope it is also a landmark for communities, schools, leaders, and citizens for crime prevention and not crime lamenting.

On Social Networks, Private Information Can Become Public Fast

As social networking tools have gone mainstream, they’ve incorporated sophisticated privacy settings that allow users to control exactly who can see their photos and other data. It is important to make use of these features to protect yourself. Unfortunately, the same features may also be providing a false sense of security.

In Indianapolis, two high school girls were disciplined by school administrators for posting racy photos on MySpace during summer vacation. Even though the privacy settings allowed only their friends to see the photos, someone with access distributed them to the school administrators, who then felt compelled to take action. The girls now face public embarrassment and are banned from extracurricular activities at school. The school also required the girls to apologize to an all-male coach’s board and to undergo counseling. The ACLU is now representing the girls in federal court, charging that the school violated the girls’ free speech rights.

Whether the school acted appropriately is a matter of debate (and now the subject of a legal battle), but the important thing to learn from this episode is that anything you post on a social network can easily become public. All it takes is one person with access to spread your information to others. You might not even realize that your privacy has been compromised until much later, or ever. For more tips on staying safe online, see NCPC’s handout on safe social networking included in the 2009-2010 Crime Prevention Month Kit.

Binge Drinking: Not Just a College Problem

On October 20, police raided a bar in Fairfield, CT, and found more than 100 underage drinkers, many of them college students. While many debate whether the legal age for consuming alcohol should remain 21 or be lowered to 18, perhaps the question more important than who is drinking is how much people are drinking?

Binge drinking is the dangerous practice of consuming enough alcohol to bring a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 grams percent or above. This typically happens when men consume five or more drinks, and when women consume four or more drinks, in about two hours (National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism). While binge drinking is most often associated with college students, quick stats on binge drinking provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paint a larger picture of the problem. Notably, 70 percent of binge drinking episodes involve adults older than 25.

Binge drinking carries the risk of alcohol poisoning and other serious health consequences, and can put the drinker at greater risk for being victimized by crime. So, as crime prevention practitioners, how do we reduce the amount of binge drinking that occurs among adults who can legally purchase and consume alcohol? The CDC recommends increasing alcohol taxes and regulating where and when alcohol can be sold.

But another component to addressing binge drinking is increasing public awareness of the problem. Increasing awareness among adults may prove challenging. Many educational materials about alcohol abuse are directed at young people, with key messages about not drinking before age 21. But what materials target adults with messages about the dangers of binge drinking?

It’s Crime Prevention Month, a time to celebrate and enhance our crime prevention efforts. If you have implemented programs or developed materials about binge drinking that target adults in their 20s, I invite you to share them through a comment about this blog. Perhaps your work can inspire another practitioner to expand their alcohol abuse prevention efforts to address a new facet of the issue with a new population.

It Takes a Community To Raise a Citizen

It takes a village to raise a child. Those words were never more true than in the need for communities to come together and ensure that their disadvantaged youth get a fair deal in life and a chance to do something other than prison time. Doing so, after all, is the foundation of crime prevention. The story of how community organizations in Washington, DC, are working together to reduce teen murders and violence and keep the city safe, as reported in the daily Afro newspaper, is worth considering this Crime Prevention Month.

The author of the article in the Afro, Tyrone Parker cites Washington Metropolitan Police Department figures that show that city is on track for its lowest number of murders in 18 years—96 so far this year as opposed to 479 in 1991. While much of this drop can be attributed to the excellent community policing skills of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, and is partly due to the new crime fighting and crime prevention technology it is using, it is also the result, Parkers claims, of the extensive work done by community organizations to keep the peace and provide services to youth. In particular, he cites the work of his own group, the Alliance of Concerned Men (ACM), a nonprofit, community-based organization, which has facilitated peace treaties between numerous gangs both in inner Washington and throughout the metropolitan area, leading to “a geometric progression of nonviolent behavior” that has helped contribute to the low crime rate. ACM also runs programs for children and families, responds to urgent community problems, and has testified before both houses of Congress.

A network of community nonprofits in Washington also provides counseling or services related to substance abuse prevention and counseling; job readiness; summer jobs; family strengthening; cultural enrichment; life skills training; afterschool programs; college preparation; and conflict transformation, among many other programs. All help young people deal with the stress and temptations of growing up, all help families cope with the challenges of difficult lives, and all help defuse the tensions that can characterize communities that are mired in poverty and ripe for gang rivalries. In short, when the community pitches in to help its youngest and most vulnerable members, let alone its older ones, it helps itself at the same time. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Despite the successes of ACM and other organizations like it, more people need to be reached, and much more work needs to be done. If Washington is to continue to build on the success of these groups and give every citizen a fair and equal chance to thrive, get a job, and enjoy a decent life, it will need partnerships with schools, the faith community, businesses, and all levels of government. Some of those goals are enshrined in the ten action principles of the Crime Prevention Coalition of America. Others reflect the purposes of Crime Prevention Month. All reflect smart thinking that can save lives, reduce crime, and cut the costs of policing and corrections.

Across the Country, People Celebrate Crime Prevention Month

During Crime Prevention Month, law enforcement, community groups, and citizens are coming together across the country to create stronger partnerships and safer streets. Whether you’re in Florida, Arizona, or Washington, DC, you will see the effects of the Crime Prevention Month and Celebrate Safe Communities initiatives.

Many communities across the county have used the Celebrate Safe Communities initiative to kick off Crime Prevention Month. Strong partnerships between community groups and law enforcement are especially apparent in Miami, FL, and Marana, AZ.

In Miami, the Citizens/Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County has partnered with local law enforcement to put on events throughout the county for citizens at block parties and for youths at schools throughout the area. The events included visits to local elementary schools to promote Circle of Respect, a National Crime Prevention Council initiative to combat bullying and cyberbullying, and included visits from crime prevention icon McGruff the Crime Dog®. McGruff, through a partnership with Home Depot, made appearances and hosted information tables at local stores.

Many Arizona communities participated in Getting Arizona Involved in Neighborhoods (G.A.I.N) as a part of the Celebrate Safe Communities initiatives. There were 15 events in neighborhoods throughout the state including ten in the town of Marana. These events were used to provide information to residents on how they can keep their homes, communities, and families safe from crime and emphasized the importance of every community member being involved in crime prevention.

In Washington, DC, NCPC, the National Sheriffs’ Association, U.S. Department of Justice, and Washington Area Mass Transit Authority (WMATA) Police have partnered to provide crime prevention, personal safety, and situational awareness information to Metro riders at four high-traffic stations in the downtown area. Metro riders were greeted in the morning by NCPC staff, WMATA police officers and McGruff, who handed out informational brochures. Riders at the Metro Center station were visibly excited to see McGruff and get information on how they could stay safe on and off the Metro.

Throughout the month there will continue to be events held across the country. The events may be part of Red Ribbon Week or Halloween Safety fairs but, like events focused on Crime Prevention Month or Celebrate Safe Communities, will accomplish a major goal, bringing law enforcement and community members together while focusing on the necessity of all citizens to be involved in keeping themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime.

Teenagers and Young Adults Beware of Crime in Web Communities

Let’s talk about the responsibility of teenagers and young adults in preventing crime in web-based communities like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Orkut etc. The social networking applications named above have many advantages and useful purposes and are used to promote various good causes. But, many good things come with unfortunate downsides as well. Popular social networking applications are being used as a platform for causing emotional distress among youth. In most cases these situations are being caused by the same teenagers and young adults who are also using these social networking applications.

Examples of such activities came to light recently when a concerned mother went to court and sued four teenagers for abusing her son emotionally and causing him a great deal of distress. The mother, Laura Cook, accused the four teenagers of creating a fake Facebook profile using her son’s real name. The profile in question, which at one point listed 580 friends, falsely portrayed Laura Cook’s son as gay and a racist. The profile, which was created using the boy’s real name, included his cell phone number.

This profile was seen by many who knew the boy personally. Many abusive messages were sent to him by other students at his high school. The boy in question was an athlete and belonged to many clubs that he was forced to quit after this incident. The boy’s siblings were also kicked out of various clubs. After an arduous process, the boy’s parents convinced Facebook to delete the profile. Even though the profile has been deleted, Laura Cook filed for defamation charges against the four teenagers who created the profile because the profile had been seen and read by many people and the damage was already done.

Teenagers can be very cruel and can cause pain both for themselves and others. These kids do not realize the extent of the damage their actions may cause to the individual targeted and their families as well. The kind of emotional trauma caused by such incidents can damage a person’s self-esteem in many ways and may lead to suicidal tendencies.

People who want to have fun at the expense of others should realize that they are not only doing things that are immoral but that they are also breaking the law and are spoiling their own future prospects because they are liable for punishment by the law for committing such cowardly acts. There are several methods of tracking misdoings by individuals on the Internet. The Internet Crime Prevention Cell has the means to track down people who commit crimes on the Internet. That is just what happened in the case of these four teenagers who were caught.

October is Crime Prevention Month. To get information on cyberbullying, visit the National Crime Prevention Council’s website. Also, see NCPC's safety tips for Halloween. Citizens and communities can also organize events by taking part in Celebrate Safe Communities initiatives, which take place during Crime Prevention Month and all through the year.

Circle of Respect: Are You In It?

Recent acts of disrespectful behavior that have played out in the media have left many of us scratching our heads and wondering what has happened to the way we treat each other in America? From the inappropriate MTV Video Music Awards moment to other high-profile outbursts, the civility in this country appears to be declining. While these acts weren’t by any means criminal, a lack of respect is at the heart of many issues that individuals face across the nation.

The National Crime Prevention Council’s (NCPC) Circle of Respect (COR) initiative is a national campaign to create safer and more caring communities by cultivating a culture of respect in America. During the initial phase of the campaign, COR aims to create a nationwide movement that will fundamentally change the way people, particularly young people, view bullying and cyberbullying behavior. To help advance its goal, NCPC will begin hosting an online Circle of Respect Book Club in October to generate a guided national discussion about this hurtful and damaging behavior. If you would like to learn more about the Circle of Respect Book Club click here.

Joining the Circle of Respect movement means choosing to be intentional about the way we interact with others, as well as the way we teach our children and youth to interact with others. It means choosing to hold our family, friends and neighbors in a positive regard, and practicing our ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. It’s a national movement that is long overdue. Circle of Respect: Are You In It?

Stay Safe Even When the News is Good

The FBI has recently released its 2008 Crime in the United States report, and it brings good news! The FBI reports that violent crimes are down for the second consecutive year. Among violent crimes, murders and non-negligent manslaughters declined 3.9 percent; aggravated assaults are down 2.5 percent, and forcible rapes dropped by 1.6 percent. Forcible rapes specifically, are at the lowest rate they have been in the past 20 years.

While this is great news, we must keep in mind that crime prevention is just as important now as ever. In order to continue to keep crime statistics dropping, we should all be aware that crime prevention is crucial to keeping our children, loved ones, and communities safe.

It is important to note that while violent crime rates have gone down, other crime rates have risen. According to the FBI, the largest number arrests made in 2008 were for drug abuse violations. Other crimes that also rose in 2008 were burglaries and larceny-thefts. Keeping in mind that since crime rates are always subject to change, learning what you can do to prevent crime is vital to continue to keep crime rates dropping. After all, we all want to stay safe in our neighborhoods, right?

If you’re new to crime prevention or don’t know where to start, October, Crime Prevention Month, is the perfect time to dive in. All month long, crime prevention will be celebrated in communities across the nation. A number of communities will be participating in Celebrate Safe Communities, the kickoff to Crime Prevention Month, when local communities organize safety-focused events. These events can range from safety education fairs to trash pick-up days; it all depends on the needs of each community. If you feel inspired to organize a safety event in your neighborhood, register your event here.

You may think crime prevention is something that should be left up to law enforcement; however, you can play a big part too and should not leave the burden on law enforcement’s shoulders. Crime prevention starts with you. Each and every one of us can make a difference to keep our communities safer. Throughout time, crime has remained a constant in our world that threatens the very lives we live. Now is the time to start transforming our neighborhoods, communities, states, and the nation into a safe place to live. How will you make a difference?

Find out how you can get involved by visiting www.ncpc.org

Stand Up for School Safety

Safety in our schools has changed dramatically from the time I was a child. In recent years, criminal incidents have occurred and been brought to our attention by the media. The way to keep them from happening again is to stand up and recognize the importance of safety in our schools.

In his speech to students last week, President Obama said, “stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn.”

Although many schools are safe, others can be just as susceptible to crime and violence as other environments.

A study by the U.S. Department of Education in 2007, stated “59 percent of students report theft of personal property, and 28 percent intimidation by bullies, 43 percent being cyberbullied, as concerns that are more common than parents and school officials realize.”

Times have changed. Now we hear stories about sexting, which is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones. So we need to remember as times change, so does technology, and the way people may hurt each other.

What can we do as parents, school officials, or trusted adults? We need to listen and talk to our children regularly. Get involved in your child’s school system. If a child ever mentions being bullied or a threat, take it seriously. Look for any warning signs in a troubled teen, and always note that no child wants to be left unheard.

We are all affected by bullies, whether it is a 2nd grader being teased on the playground, or an 8th grader forwarding hurtful messages about a classmate.

Success in our school system requires more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic. We all need to feel safe and secure in our schools. No one person can do this alone. It requires the help of all students, parents, schools, and law enforcement.

NCPC has a few safety tips to follow.

Students

• Report suspicious behavior or any threats by a student to a teacher or counselor at your school.
• Respect others and their belongings.

Parents

• Volunteer some of your time at school helping out in your child’s classroom.
• Look for any warning signs of a troubled teen.

School Officials

• Control access to the school. Have an appropriate check in process, and make sure any visitor is identified correctly.

To view more safety tips or to see any of NCPC’s brochures, check out our website.

Turning Off the Lights: An Ounce of Prevention, a Pound of Trouble

Many communities across the country are responding to the national financial crisis by cutting back or eliminating crime prevention programs and services, which in the long run may jeopardize public safety and contribute to an increase in crime.

Some communities have identified cutting off street lights as one method to save money, reports Dennis Cauchon in a recent USA TODAY story. His story states that, “Once viewed as helpful safety measures, the lights are increasingly seen by some public officials and researchers as an environmental issue, creating light pollution and burning excess energy.” One city is turning off 40 percent of its street lights and putting another 20 percent on timers that turn the lights off from midnight to 5:30 a.m. The goal of the lighting changes is to reduce lighting costs by $400,000 per year. Another small town is turning off one-third of its 625 street lights to save $47.000.

Think of the cost to the small town, which aims to save money by cutting off street lights, if the removal of highway and security lighting contributes to the death of a police officer from either a traffic accident or an assault. The personal costs to the family of the dead officer, the insurance and death benefit costs to the city and federal government, and the training costs for the new officer to replace the lost officer far outweigh the savings accrued from turning off street lights. What other crime costs and unintended consequences could be associated with turning off street lights?

The study, Improved Street Lighting and Crime Prevention: A Systematic Review, by Farrington and Welsh, which was published by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention, found that 13 street lighting studies from the United States and the United Kingdom showed that improved street lighting was linked to a significant 21 percent decrease in crime in the experimental areas compared with comparable control areas. The authors of the study suggest that street lighting may decrease crime by increasing community pride and informal social control rather than just increasing surveillance and deterrence.

Street lights not only promote public safety they also support commerce after dark. The first city to systematically install street lights for public safety purposes was Paris in 1669. The installation of the street lighting system in Paris was so significant that King Louis XIV had a coin to commemorate it. The motto of the coin was Urbis Securitas Et Nitor or Safety and Security of Paris, making it the first public safety challenge coin.

The installation of street lights in Paris not only made the streets safer but they helped to create a new nighttime commerce. Will turning off street lights in cities in 2009 have a negative impact on local commerce? More information about the implementation of street lighting in Paris and its impact on the vitality and commerce of Paris can be found in the book the Essence of Style, by Joan DeJean.