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Neighborhood Watch
Crime and fear of crime threaten a community's well-being -- people
become afraid to use streets and parks, suspicion erupts between young
and old, shops gradually leave. Crime in turn feeds on the social isolation
it creates. Today's lifestyles -- many homes where both parents work, more
single parent families, and greater job mobility -- can contribute to this
isolation and weaken communities.
You and your neighbors can prevent or break this vicious cycle, and in the process, build your community into a safer, friendlier, and more caring place to live. Statistics tell the story. Police and sheriffs' departments in cities, small towns, and suburbs throughout the country report substantial decreases in crime and fear due to local crime prevention efforts. Start with a Neighborhood Watch or block club to address immediate crime problems, focus on home security, and build neighborhood cohesion. Then move into other areas such as educating residents about child protection, drug abuse victim services, and domestic violence. Explore circumstances in the community that might contribute to crime -- the physical design of buildings, traffic patterns, drug trafficking, few jobs or recreational opportunities for teenagers, lack of affordable housing -- and look for long-range solutions.
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