Prevention Works

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.

United We Serve: Serving for Safety

Hurricane season is upon us, and while we are much better at predicting, tracking, and preparing for storms than we were a few decades ago, the aftermath of these natural disasters is unchanged—destruction, casualties, and profound disruption to our daily living. Time and again, however, research shows that people who believe themselves to be “prepared” for disasters often aren’t as prepared as they think. The same goes for our safety and security.

We often think we have taken enough precautions to thwart the criminals among us, but the daily crime logs tell a different story. Preventing the small disasters that don’t grab the national headlines— a burglary, an assault, the looting of a bank account— needs the same kind of education as the larger disasters looming on the evening news. We can prepare for these small disasters much the same way we prepare for the bigger ones when we nail plywood over our windows and sandbag levees.

This summer the Obama administration has launched United We Serve—an initiative to tap into the American attributes of neighborliness, giving, and volunteering. So far United We Serve has highlighted the topics of education, the environment, and the health of our citizens. This week (August 24-30) the United We Serve initiative is emphasizing safety and security. At the National Crime Prevention Council we emphasize safety and security every day though our support of Neighborhood Watch programs that engage citizens to do their part to make their communities safe, our children and youth safety resources that prepare families for the threats that face children as they grow from toddlers to teens to young adults, and our commitment to community-wide crime prevention, victim services, and other justice programs.

Go to NCPC’s website for information and resources to help you and your community become safer and more secure. Then, visit the United We Serve website to learn about safety and security volunteer opportunities in your community and to access user-friendly toolkits to help you start your own. Through United We Serve and NCPC, ordinary citizens can make extraordinary contributions to strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for those most in need and at risk. The United We Serve effort is dedicated to making service not just a “sometimes” thing but a way of life for every American. While there is no questioning our capacity to deliver a “pound” of response, isn’t it time for an “ounce” of preparation and prevention?

How Will You Respond to the Worsening Homeless Problem?

Recent news stories have brought to light another issue for law enforcement—attacks on the homeless. Estimates are that the homeless population has swelled to more than one million nationally, with almost 50 percent lacking shelter. Moreover, the National Coalition for the Homeless reports a rise in violence against the homeless, with at least 880 unprovoked attacks and 244 fatalities. Most of the attacks were brutal—a man in Cleveland savagely beaten in a group attack, a man in Los Angeles set on fire, a woman pushed down a steep staircase and another raped. The Coalition reports that most of these attacks were committed by males aged 25 or younger and that in the last 10 years 58 percent of attackers were teenagers.

How should we respond to this growing problem? While many cities have taken effective steps to address the problem, homeless persons have fallen prey to enforcement sweeps and new laws with restrictions on sleeping, sitting, or asking for money. In a recent news article, Los Angeles was accused of criminalizing homelessness because of its harsh police enforcement, which includes handing out tickets to the homeless for minor offenses and jailing them in some cases. In Las Vegas, a public crackdown on encampments has forced the homeless to move out of the parks and off the streets. Feeling threatened by police and other assailants, many have gone literally underground to live in flood channels. Advocates for the homeless have attributed attacks on these vulnerable citizens to the city’s enforcement posture and the attitude it creates.

In contrast to these enforcement strategies, other cities have turned to businesses for help and have enacted harsher laws and penalties for the attackers. Maryland has passed stiffer penalties in its expanded hate-crime law to protect the homeless. Washington, DC, has added a similar measure and a related bill was recently introduced in Congress. Similar proposals are being considered in other states. Portland, OR, has taken a different approach—one that focuses on sidewalks that are clean, welcoming, and accessible to all. The city’s emphasis on “Sidewalk Access for All” has provided better services and shelter for the homeless. Businesses work collaboratively with city agencies and other nonprofits to make their vision of accessibility a reality. Partnerships between merchants, advocates for the homeless, and city agencies have been key to this strategy.

We all know that some people are homeless, and can probably recall hearing that the numbers are projected to increase, but have probably spent little time thinking about what that means for our local community and neighborhoods. For those of us who live in urban areas, we may have passed a homeless person on the street without a word or thought as we hurriedly passed by to “get somewhere.” We may have gotten angry when they asked us for money, projecting our own worries about instability on them as they are easy, visible targets. Or perhaps we reported them to police or put pressure on city officials to address the problem.

If you’re like me, you may have thought about what you would do if you lost your home, your job, your health—especially when we see our neighbors and friends, “rich” or “poor,” forced to deal with one or more of these issues. As our communities begin to receive and implement programs with Recovery Act funds, the reality is that we need to effectively respond. Partnerships and vision were key for Portland. For Maryland and Washington, DC, stiffer penalties for attackers provided an answer. How we respond will be different for each of our communities, but the reality is that we must respond. The problem is not going away. It is growing. What will we do? For more information about crime prevention strategies, visit ncpc.org. For more information about the status of the homeless and recommendations for your community, visit http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/index.html#reports.

The Economy and Crime

As the economy worsens, there is debate about whether it is to blame for the rash of shootings that have recently occurred across the country. In the past month there have been at least eight mass homicides with 59 casualties. In the most recent shooting, in Binghamton, NY, a man entered the American Civic Association building, killed 13 people, and took his own life as well. Reports said that the shooter was angry about being laid off and being shown a lack of respect because he did not speak English well. In another shooting, three policemen were killed in Pittsburgh, PA, after they responded to a domestic disturbance call. Friends of the gunman said the shooter was upset about being laid off from work.

Some experts are saying the reasons for these acts of violence are the dismal state of the economy. When people are frustrated and angry with how the economy directly affects them, they will take desperate measures because they feel as though they have nothing to lose.

We can't anticipate what's in the minds of murders and criminals, but we all should look for warning signs that a loved one or friend is in distress. It is important to recognize suspicious behavior. For example, is the person making "jokes" that are hurtful and mean-spirited? Is he or she making passing comments about violence or saying things that seem unusual? We shouldn't ignore odd behavior from a loved one or friend; they may be expressing a need for help.

Are the recent tragedies cited above a coincidence—or a window into the effects of the declining economy?

Gunplay

"Curiosity killed the cat." Remember this phrase, because never have four words had graver implications.

Recently, the television program 20/20 released the results of an experiment among curious 18- to 22-year-olds about their lack of familiarity with guns. These teens and young adults responded to a newspaper advertisement and each volunteered to clean out a garage in their neighborhood. Inside, two unloaded guns were hidden among the clutter. The video footage illustrates a shocking outcome: teens and young adults handles unfamiliar weapons no more responsibly than toddlers who had been similarly observed ten years earlier.

An expert from the New Jersey Firearms Academy, Lateif Dickerson, predicted that the teens would avoid contact with the guns because guns are foreign to much of the U.S. population. However, the youths handled the guns recklessly, pointing them at others, holding them to their own heads, and staring down the gun barrels. Though no participant attempted to hide the gun in his pants pockets as several young children had, ten years earlier.

Experts explain this teenage desensitization and, frankly, morbid fascination with handguns to the highly publicized campus gun violence of the past decade. The fact is that more 18- to 22-year-olds die in accidental handgun deaths than any other age group and peer pressure has been shown to play a large role as well. In the experiment described above, one 20/20 producer posed as a participant in cleaning the garage. He came across a gun and handled it and he proved influential in recruiting the subjects to do the same, rather than avoid the gun, in all but two cases.

It turns out food isn't the only thing we should be taught not to play with. These startling results demonstrate that the college-age population requires a serious lesson in gun safety and personal responsibility. Aren't we too old to think that gunplay is okay?

"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?

Variety Tuesday

Crime never sleeps and neither does crime prevention news. With all of last week’s excitement about the presidential election, here are a few news stories from across the country that you might have missed. As always, we want to hear your thoughts—please leave a comment on any of these topics!

California: The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the mayor likes a recent report’s recommendations for police department reforms, but cash is tight. It sounds like the mayor is looking for cost-effective ways to improve police-citizen relationships and help communities understand what they can do to prevent crime.

Florida: News-press.com reported that Coconut Point in Estero is teaming up with McGruff the Crime Dog in 2009 to promote crime prevention and safety in Southwest Florida. I don’t need to tell you how much we love McGruff here at NCPC, and I hope he—and we—can help you “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®” in your neighborhood, too.

Georgia: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that crime is up in DeKalb County, but so are felony arrests. The deputy chief, quoted in the article, says the economic downturn has led to more burglaries of vacant houses by thieves looking for copper fixtures and wiring. NCPC agrees that crime tends to rise as the economy slumps.

Illinois: The Chicago Tribune reported that the Chicago police’s Mobile Strike Force has taken to the streets in an effort to curb violence. According to the article, the Mobile Strike Force replaces the Special Operations Section (SOS). The SOS was credited for effectively reducing homicides, but it also became mired in scandal.

Washington, DC: FOXNews reported on how the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police force has begun to use email and text message alerts to combat crime. It’s nice to see communication technology being put towards good ends, instead of being looked at as a necessary evil—or worse, a way to perpetrate fraud.