Prevention Works

New NCPC Resources Will Help You "Take A Bite Out Of Crime®"

It seems there is no escaping the continuous "bad news" about the economic downturn and its impact on crime—which is rising in some parts of the country. If you are a law enforcement officer you know the connection first hand. If you're a community crime prevention practitioner, you are probably frustrated by the reduced resources available to help you fight crime in your community.

Now more than ever police departments need to rely on free materials and resources to help them get the job done. Law enforcement agencies like the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) are using a new set of complimentary resources from NCPC to handle issues such as crimes against seniors to burglary and property theft prevention. The materials, designed by NCPC with the support of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, include a series of palm cards, fliers, and posters on current crime trends that complement a radio initiative, Rapid Response, released late last year.

The PPD is working with NCPC on a successful Safer Seniors public education campaign. Since the launch PPD and NCPC have completed more than 20 training programs, placed more than 200 posters in community and senior centers, provided direct safety information and training to 900 residents, and distributed more than 5,000 cobranded tips brochures and fliers. Though the PPD has recently launched a second public education campaign in response to increasing burglaries in the area, its crime prevention officers continue to receive calls for information and more training on senior safety.

Are you taking advantage of the free resources from NCPC? If not, what are you waiting for? Check out the downloadable PDF files at NCPC.org. Next month NCPC will post seven new radio messages and Spanish language versions of the print resources.

"Sexting" and Other Picture Posting Pitfalls

In the past few weeks, I've read stories that should make us all pause and think about how some folks are using online media and providing an unprecedented view of potential crimes and wrongful actions. From girls posting a video of themselves beating up a classmate to the infamous picture of Olympic champion Michael Phelps using drug paraphernalia, these are examples of where people really need to think before they post. It is likely the person who took and then posted the picture of Phelps didn't think of the potential repercussions—like possible jail time and lost endorsements for the athlete.

Likewise, teens and young adults (and older adults too) probably aren't thinking of the criminal repercussions of sending or sharing nude or inappropriate photos. From Wisconsin to Virginia and points in between, young people are engaging in "sexting"—sending nude or partially nude photos via text messaging. What they don't realize is they can be charged with possession of child pornography and, if convicted, could be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of their lives.

A recent Business Week article highlighted a new website called "Yo Busted" that allows people to post whatever pictures they want of you. But then, you, the victim, will have to pay them if you want the pictures taken down. Currently labeled "under construction," this website is frightening. Someone can post pictures of you in intimate or embarrassing situations that could live forever on the Web! Just think of what a cyberbully could do.

I love technology and the instant access it gives us to our family and friends. It allows us to do many great things. But, I'm also concerned. Are we creating a culture where sexting, cyberbullying, and other inappropriate technology-based behavior can thrive?

The Benefits of CCTV

While wandering in an underground parking deck in a large city—because I had forgotten where I parked my car—I soon realized that I must be under camera surveillance.

An estimated 30 million surveillance cameras are in use in the United States. Even images of the recent miraculous water landing of a commercial airliner in the Hudson River were captured by at least two security cameras. Cameras are affixed at our borders to detect illegal immigrants, and placed in our airports, schools, and on our street corners. 

A quick perusal of Google News reveals scores of stories recently where law enforcement utilized the surveillance tool to identify criminals and pursue prosecution. But that’s where the story gets muddled.

Questions are only now emerging after the widespread deployment of these cameras. A recent report by the University of California, Berkeley, comprehensively examined the performance of San Francisco’s surveillance camera program. It found no effect on deterrent or conviction rates for violent crime, but did report a significant deterrent effect on property crime near camera installations. The report states that crime rates remained the same; it was just displaced to other parts of the city that did not have the cameras. Similar studies and reports, anecdotal and academic, are moving to the same conclusion. An evaluation in Philadelphia cites uneven crime reduction performance of the cameras. One in the UK shows effectiveness with vehicle break-ins, but modest or no crime reduction benefits in other categories.

Cities that have the cameras or are considering them are now questioning if they are worth the expense. Suspects are rarely seen in ironclad identifying images and “chain of custody” challenges to the handling of the images are often successful.

In our current economic situation we should be certain that crime prevention measures are not discarded on the basis of cost alone.  We should ensure that security cameras are thoroughly evaluated before they are discounted.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a neighborly day for a neighbor. Would you be mine? Could you be mine?”  Ok, so I never really watched Mr. Rogers as a child, but it never stopped me from learning the song. I was always particularly interested in the question, “would you be mine?” (a neighbor that is) because really, how would someone know that they even wanted to be my neighbor? Perhaps they’re unsure of what it takes to be a neighborly neighbor? Is it as simple as lending me sugar or collecting my newspaper when I’m away, or might I ask them to perform simple tasks in a more complicated context, such as making a phone call when they suspect child abuse or hear gunshots on their front lawn?

On February 3, 2009, neighbors in Temple Hills, MD, heard approximately 8 gunshots around 8:00 p.m.  No one looked outside and no one called the police. What no one knew is that a 16-year-old boy lay shot in one of his neighbor’s yards. In fact, no one found this out until the police received its first phone call at 7:00 a.m. and arrived to turn over his lifeless body.

In this case, it may be easy to try and place blame on individuals in the neighborhood. But the truth is how often have we heard the sounds of violence next door and thought to “mind our own business”? How many neighborhoods have become deaf to the sound of gunshots because they hear them so often? Nowadays we can’t just live in our neighborhoods, we must actively serve them. Consider starting a Neighborhood Watch program or even a simple neighborhood phone tree that allows each of your families to be accounted for in the event you become aware of violence or an emergency.  It doesn’t take a lot to be a good neighbor – you only need to care and want to be one.

Teen and Tween Dating: Hazardous to their Health?

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week has just concluded. A 2008 report commissioned by Liz Claiborne, Inc. produced some startling findings about the conduct of tweens and teens in relationships. According to the report, about one-third of 11- and 12-year-olds are having relationships. Often these can be hazardous.

• Sixty-two percent report that they know friends who have been verbally abusive in a relationship
• Forty percent report that they know friends in relationships who have been put-down, insulted, or called names through social networking media or text messaging
• Twenty percent say they have friends in relationships who have been punched, slapped, or kicked by a dating partner

When sexual activity at a young age is added to the mix, the results worsen. Tweens seem to have a hard time navigating their roles in relationships and understanding that abuse is not an acceptable or appropriate element. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R, Idaho) has championed an awareness campaign about teen dating violence. Check Senator Crapo's website for information about the campaign, which is supported by the American Bar Association, and the American Bar Association website for resources on the topic for teachers and other leaders of youths. The Domestic Violence and Workplace blog also has a number of helpful links.

One of the pillars of the National Crime Prevention Council’s mission is protecting children and youth. NCPC has numerous resources, including its Teens, Crime, and the Community curriculum, which dedicates chapters to this important topic and includes the "Dater's Bill of Rights."

If you’d like to know more about NCPC’s offerings in this important area or the Community Works curriculum for youth, please contact us.

Dating: A New Crime Prevention Strategy?

A new report has found that teens in serious dating relationships are less likely to commit crime than peers who date casually. But before we ask our crime prevention officers to become matchmakers, let’s examine why those relationships may reduce crime. The authors of the study believe the key reason is the connection and sense of responsibility to another person that develops in a committed dating relationship. In these romantic relationships, young people can develop empathy and concern for their significant other’s well-being. They have a sense of generosity and a desire to help and support that other person. Young people are also prompted to think about the effects of their actions on others.

It is these attributes, then, not merely the presence of a girlfriend or boyfriend, that serve as a deterrent for committing crime. The good news for crime prevention practitioners is that these qualities are not just nurtured by committed dating relationships. They can be developed when youth have committed relationships with family members, mentors, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, and other caring adults in their lives. In your work with young people, continue to provide opportunities for youth to connect with others in positive ways through sports, clubs, job training programs, volunteering, or tutoring or mentorship programs. Make a list of what opportunities for youth exist in your community, and keep it handy. You never know when you may be able to match a young person with a great opportunity.