Prevention Works

Summer Safety

Summer is almost here and most children will be out of school enjoying all types of summer activities. Some will go to camps, make a trip to visit relatives, or the entire family will take a trip to a long-planned destination.  Whatever the itinerary, we all need to be diligent to keep ourselves and our children safe and out of harm’s way. Summertime should be filled with enjoyment, adventure, and relaxation whether it is with old friends, new friends, or family. In any situation, we must exercise caution and help children learn how to keep themselves safe.

In case you need reminders, here are a few tips to help you and your children have a safe and happy summer.

Summer camps:  If your child is going to summer camp, be sure to check out the organization or business that is running the camp. If it is not a well-known, national entity, you may want to seek references. The Better Business Bureau or the state’s attorney’s office may have information about the organization or business that could be helpful. You want to be sure that the money you pay for your child’s experience is to a reputable company and that the services offered will in fact be delivered.

Nearly every camp hires individuals to help run programs during the summer. Ask how they screen those that are hired. To what extent are background checks conducted? What type of training does camp staff undergo prior to children arriving? 

In a sleep-away camp, what safety measures exist to keep campers and staff safe from intruders or other emergencies? 

Traveling: If visiting relatives or friends away from home, what are the activities that the child will be engaged in?  Are other children in the area and what are their ages?  One summer, two of my nieces came to visit with me and I enrolled them in the local community recreation center for their age group. The girls were thrilled to be able to walk to the center on their own, but they had to take a specific route that I walked with them. One route would have taken them along the commuter rail tracks, and I knew I wanted them to avoid any temptation or opportunity for doing something their curious minds might lead them to.  So when they followed the other route to the center, I knew they had a much better chance of staying out of harm’s way.

Internet: Talk with your child about Internet activity. If there are limitations at home, those same limitations should be observed when visiting someone else’s home or at camp.  Kids who bully and Internet predators do not take a holiday.

Outings: Wherever kids go they should always use a buddy system.  Each one looks after the other.  Most kids love going to the amusement park or to concerts during the summer.  Talk with the children about staying together. Discuss what they should do if they become separated.  They should plan a place to meet as soon as they arrive. For instance, even as an adult, when I go with friends to a crowded event, we pinpoint a spot where we will meet if we get separated, such as, go back to the last place where we were together or meet at the Security or Information Booth.  Re-connecting with lost buddies might be easier for those with cell phones. 

When I was growing up, we didn’t have the convenience of cell phones, but we did have each other to look after. My brothers and I, along with the other kids in the neighborhood, spent each and every day outside (after our chores were done, of course) and at the local park. We all had strict rules about where we could or could not go, and parents acted collectively in monitoring the safety of all the children in our neighborhood. We never strayed very far from our neighborhood and we always stayed together. The only time there was injury was running bases in softball or spraining a knuckle in tetherball. The only “crime” was our own sports injuries.  

Have a great summer and be safe.

Be An Active Partner in Your Children’s School Safety

Two days prior to the tragic school shooting in Newtown, CT, my co-worker’s daughter’s school had a lockdown due to a student bringing a gun into the school.  My co-worker, a retired police officer and coincidently from Connecticut, was in Virginia with me on business when it occurred.  This prompted us to have a lengthy discussion regarding overall school safety and what changes he would recommend for his daughter’s school.  Sadly, I didn’t even know what my own children’s school policy and procedures were for this type of incident. The next evening (Thursday), my co-worker voiced his concerns to a few members of the school’s PTO and business community.  Then Friday, the tragedy occurred.  He and I were totally heartbroken.

This tragedy caused me to have serious conversations with my children and what protocols they are taught should a tragedy such as this occur.  I normally leave these conversations to my husband who is a retired police officer and very active in the school (a private K3-12 institution), but I wanted to know for myself that my children will be as safe as possible.  I already had a few concerns regarding visitors and past students having too much open access to the school.  Although the school has a very friendly and family-oriented atmosphere, you still cannot be too careful.  Just in 2001 during the Washington, DC, sniper attacks, the snipers were in the school’s neighborhood.  Trust me, that is still very much on my mind.

I must say what my oldest child and my niece (who also attends the school), 12^th and 10^th grades, told me their procedures were during an active shooter lockdown disturbed me. It was vastly different from what my son in 2^nd grade is supposed to do.  On December 18, NCPC released a press release to offer tips and resources to parents, students, and educators, along with our School Safety Toolkit and other resources.  Armed with this information, I gave it to the school’s director.  The school, with thousands of other schools across the country, reexamined its policies and procedures on school safety.  My husband assisted the school’s director with a safety drill on January 4. As a result, necessary changes have been made.

I would like to urge parents to become an active partner with your children and in their schools.  Whether it is attending a sporting event or school play; a more serious matter such as your child being bullied or approached by a gang; or the unthinkable – a school shooting such as Newtown, as a parent, you have the power to inform, make suggestions, and play an active role in the safety and security of your child.  Don’t be a bystander in their lives. Your partnership could make a critical difference in creating a safe, caring, and thriving environment for not only your child but also for the entire school population as well.

Gang Intervention and Prevention 101 for Police

I have been fortunate to conduct gang training throughout the United States on a continuous basis since 1992. This includes a Basic Gangs course and an Advanced Gang Investigations course. But I seem to fool quite a few people when throughout the course of the training, which lasts anywhere from two to five days, I talk about what you can do to help gang members who are calling out for help.

Law enforcement has the unique ability to gauge human beings in a nanosecond. This special skill works in many phases for police officers, deputy sheriffs, state police, correctional officers, and all facets of the criminal justice spectrum. But this skill set is not always put to use, because, “Why would we want to help gang members?” Gang members are the scourge of society; they hate police. That is often true, but there are many who join gangs who desperately want out, and the one person they see more than anyone other than their own gang members, is a police officer.

Why do I feel passionately about helping? It is our job! Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, in the late 1950s to middle 1960s was no picnic. I grew up with and around gang members. Many were my friends, and many were my enemies. I grew up disliking police. In fact when the Chicago Police Department officers decided to run us off street corners, they would deposit me at home and smile when they delivered me to my father; a fate worse than death!

In 1963 I got into a fight with James Alexander, who was a Blackstone Ranger. I knew James well, and because of my reputation for fighting, he decided to pull out a knife. I took the knife from him and tried to stab him and missed, the knife sticking in the ground. When the neighbors pulled me off him, the police came to my house. Two Chicago Police youth officers, Jackie Thomas and Charles Inge challenged me to come to the Hyde Park YMCA. I didn’t know why until my father took me, and I saw they were black belts in Judo. My life changed. Several things were learned from meeting them. They made me a better Judo player and person; secondly, I learned police officers are really human beings. Thirdly, I majored in Police Science (Criminal Justice today), and began my law enforcement career in 1969, because I wanted to be like them; I wanted to give back.

Throughout my career I have tried to give back. I have taken gang members into my Judo clubs in Chicago (IL) and Prince George’s County (MD). I have coached kids who joined my baseball teams, and told them, “It’s either the bandanna or the baseball.” Most chose the baseball. I have and still mentor former gang members. But this is not about me. It’s about them.

Criminal justice professionals have an obligation to serve and protect, which includes reaching out if the opportunity presents itself. Most gang members lack “life skills,” which need to be given to them. Leadership skills are something that criminal justice professionals possess, but going that extra mile and turning those qualities into a positive outcome for a gang member or at-risk youth is awesome!

When we talk about gang prevention, the first topic is violence. I have always felt strongly about community oriented policing and exercising community building. The community needs to see police officers outside their cruisers; they need to see police officers talk and feel comfortable within their own environment. Police explorer programs are a great conduit to show the youth of America how police departments work and how police officers tick. In the 1990s, I helped launch the police explorer program in Prince George’s County (MD) with Captain W. Grady Baker. Because of the dedication of numerous officers, many youth who would have joined gangs, gone to jail, or been killed are now police officers.

There are so many ways we can help. Many criminal justice professionals were and remain athletes. Take your skills and teach or coach. Many are parents; take your skills as a parent and show you care.

This is not about saving the world, but William Bratton, former Chief LAPD said, “You can’t always arrest your way out of a gang!”

Tony Avendorph retired in 2009 after 40 years in law enforcement, serving with the Illinois Department of Corrections, Los Angeles (CA) County Sheriff's Department, and Prince George's County Police Department (MD). Tony is the President of Tony Avendorph Associates, LLC.

Tony Avendorph, President

Overcoming the Challenges Faced in Implementing

Bullying Prevention Programs in Schools

Bullying has become a critical issue among schools everywhere. As educators attempt to get a handle on the growing concern, many attempt to implement bullying prevention programs on school grounds.  However, the implementation of such programs is often met with a number of obstacles, including student participation, funding, and deciding what’s the right program for your school and students. Yet, as we move toward developing comprehensive bullying prevention practices, there are a few key strategies that we should all keep in mind.

Finding the right program

Creating a program that addresses your school’s unique concerns is of vital importance. The first step in doing so is to conduct a two-tiered assessment process that will guide the development of bullying prevention strategies. The first tier should involve surveys that reveal information about the school’s social climate, while the second should identify flaws in security equipment and procedures. Development of any action plan designed to address bullying should always begin with an assessment. We can’t solve the problem, until we define it.

Student participation

Student participation is critical to the successful implementation of any bullying prevention program. It is important that students feel empowered and engaged in the action planning process and that they share the responsibility for creating environments in which they can learn and thrive. Getting students involved and excited about taking part in a bullying prevention program will ensure that the program works to its full potential and that they can identify and address concerns that are most important to them.

Keeping it a priority

Maintaining a program’s importance after the excitement has settled is a major challenge that schools may face. Periodically updating a program with new ideas and incentives can help keep up the momentum and excitement for both students and educators. Whether a program is structured or unstructured, school leaders can find different ways to keep the program relevant. From creating a poster contest to structuring an assembly focused on bullying, be creative in your efforts to keep students motivated toward bullying prevention.

Creating an open environment

Overcoming the unspoken rule among students of “no snitching” may stop even the most successful bullying prevention program in its tracks. Bullying is a tough issue to face, so it is important to create an open environment where students can express their feelings and concerns in a confidential and comfortable environment. All teachers and administrators should be well educated on the topic of bullying and be prepared to assist students in successfully putting a stop to bullying. Giving students realistic tips and advice is an important step toward bullying prevention. When students feel that a strategy actually works, they are more likely to use that strategy again and again.

For more information on bullying prevention and available resources to support your efforts, sign up today for the FREE Professional Development Webinar for Educators presented by the School Improvement Network; Bullying: Understanding the Problem, Defining Solutions on May 30^th 2012, 3:00pm with Robin Young of the National Crime Prevention Council.  

Click here to register for the FREE webinar: http://www.instantpresenter.com/AccountManager/RegEv.aspx?PIID=EA57D783884f

How Can You Make the New Year Safer?

As each new year rolls around, we are inclined to make a “new year’s resolution,” and decide that this is the year that we will actually stick with it. Resolutions normally consist of weight loss goals, exercising, eating healthier, or quitting bad habits such as smoking or drinking. While these resolutions are certainly important, why not make a second resolution, one that not only impacts you, but your family, work place and community? This year, do something different. Make a resolution not only with yourself, but with others to practice crime prevention and personal safety in your community.

Making a safety resolution is not only a great way to get yourself in the habit of practicing crime prevention, but also a way to make others aware of it as well. Whether you decide to practice safety at home, on the computer, or in your community, incorporating safety tips into your everyday routines will help to make crime prevention a regular part of your daily life.

So how will you decide to stick to your new year’s safety resolution? Here are a few ideas to get your started:

Home and Personal Safety

• Always be aware of your surroundings
• Always make sure all doors and windows are locked in your house and car
• Try to park in well-lighted areas with good visibility close to walkways, stores, and people
• Consider an alarm system, some alarms may be purchased for as little as $100

Cyber Safety

• Always keep your passwords private
• Avoid giving out your personal information
• Only order things online from websites you know and trust
• Avoid opening e-mails or visiting websites that don’t seem trustworthy, they could contain a virus that may harm your computer

Neighborhood Safety

• Start or join a neighborhood watch groupin your area
• Organize neighborhood clean-up days to pick up litter, paint over graffiti, plant flowers or repair broken equipment in playgrounds
• Always ensure walkway and streets are well-lit
• Get to know your neighbors-work together to keep your neighborhood safe

For more ideas on how to kick-off your safety resolutions for 2010, visit www.ncpc.org.

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

The Bucket List

“Live life to the fullest,” “Live like there’s no tomorrow,” “Live each day as if it were your last,’’ — our society is filled with a number of catch phrases designed to inspire us all to take nothing for granted and seize the day! Unfortunately, we don’t all take heed of this advice until our days are numbered. Enter the Bucket List—things to do before you “kick the bucket,” the theme of the movie The Bucket List, in which Morgan and Jack travel the world in search of fun and adventure because they believe they are about to die. What would your bucket list look like if you knew or just believed you were going to die? What if you were young? Would you head off into the wild beyond, like Morgan and Jack, or would you abuse drugs and engage in other unsafe behaviors like so many of your peers today?

The perception of time is everything and unfortunately, a number of teens don’t believe they have much time left. According to a recent study conducted by Dr. Iris Borowsky, a researcher at the University of Minnesota, nearly 15 percent of teenagers believe that they are going to die young. Consequently, these feelings of hopelessness cause teens to engage in dangerous behaviors because they feel that they have nothing to lose. Dr. Borowsky’s study found that over seven years, adolescents who thought they would die young were seven times more likely to be diagnosed with AIDS, attempt suicide, and participate in fights that resulted in serious injuries.

Hope for our children’s future, requires us all to ensure that they believe and behave as if they will indeed have one. To do this we must offer them guidance and teach them the necessary skills that promote a safe and long-lasting life. NCPC offers various resources, such as our Community Works curriculum, that educate young people about the cost and consequences of crime and encourages youth to analyze situations, exercise reason and critical thinking skills, effectively communicate ideas, and exhibit positive behaviors. If you have advice or program and resource recommendations for our young people, leave a comment below.

Have A Safe Summer!

It’s that time of year again; the time that people, especially children, look forward to the most. Yes, you guessed it – it’s summer break time! The time when families go on vacation, children are out of school, the weather is warm and inviting, and the beach is calling. It’s a much needed time for children and parents to relax from the demands of school and work. It can be a time when one may let his or her guard down and not be as attentive as he or she should be.

Unfortunately, criminals do not take a break. Many times, criminals may see this as an opportunity to take advantage of relaxed vigilance. In recent weeks in the Washington, DC, area, sexual predators have entered unlocked doors and windows and preyed upon women. A high school student was sexually assaulted and almost abducted while walking on a wooded path to high school. And in Prince Georges County, a county just outside of the District, home invasion robberies have doubled.

As summertime kicks in, let’s remember to be safe and to teach and remind our children how to be safe. On NCPC’s website, there are hundreds of safety tips directed toward every audience and almost every topic. Below are just some of the examples:

Travel Tips

• If you are about to travel, check out our vacation tips (pdf) and our preparedness guide (pdf) for travelers.
• Don’t let your guard down when driving or filling up the car for that road trip. Look at these tips for car theft (pdf) and gas station theft prevention.

Safety Tips for Children and Youth

• Have your children check out the bike safety and streetwise tips (pdf).
• If your child will be home alone, share these tips with them.
• Review these facts with your teens about how NOT to be a victim of crime.

Safety Tips for Parents and Adults

• If your children will be spending more time on the Internet this summer, share these tips with them to help keep them safe.
• Before you go on vacation, use these convenient checklists for apartments (pdf) and homes (pdf) to help prevent intruders.
• If you want to prevent yourself from being a victim of violent crime, check out this list.

The bottom line is that we all need to continue to be attentive to our surroundings. Protect yourself and your loved ones by reducing the chance for criminals to victimize you and your family. NCPC wants you to have a fun and safe summer!

P.O.S.S.E Keeps Kids Out of Gangs

A recent NCPC training conference call on gangs sponsored by the Community Capacity Development Office attempted to answer the question, "Why Do Kids Join Gangs?" Oscar (Ossco) Bolton, founder of a Kansas City, MO, gang prevention organization gave his insights and he should know: Bolton was a former gang leader and helped recruit scores of youth into his gang. Nowadays, Bolton uses his influence for good and works with thousands of youth annually in the Kansas City area and provides positive alternatives to gangs through his organization— P.O.S.S.E. (Peers Organized to Support Student Excellence). Since a drive-by shooting claimed the life of his 11-month old nephew in 1993, Bolton has made it his mission to save youth from lives of gang crime and to capitalize on the potential in all youth to become leaders and solid contributors to the community.

Bolton said that there are three factors that encourage youth participation in gangs: (1) a sense of familial acceptance and being part of something bigger than themselves, (2) survival and protection, and (3) financial gain. He said gang recruiters were successful because they spent time with the youth, "out talked" them and their positive adult figures, and, finally, became big brothers and father figures to the youth.

In his P.O.S.S.E. program, Mr. Bolton provides youth with a specific mission and ensures that they know that they are the agents of change. He begins by declaring to the youth that there is an emergency in their community and that they have to form a posse to become the agents of the changes that are needed. Training sessions on conflict resolution, communication, team building, decision making, life skills, and peer mentoring and service are the necessary components that make the program work. In the conference call, Mr. Bolton also underscored the importance of changing adult attitudes towards youth as well. When a teacher or other adult in a youth's life can begin to see the youth in a different, positive light, their attitude toward the young person and their expectations of him or her can change as well.

Bolton's program is open to boys and girls in Kansas City schools. For more information on gangs, search NCPC.org for "gang" to find helpful resources including Gang Fact Sheets for Youth and adults and educators.

"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?