Neighborhood Watch and

Community Involvement

2345 Crystal Drive, Suite 500

Arlington, VA 22202

202-261-4153 FAX 202-296-1356

pharris@ncpc.org

www.ncpc.org/ncpa

Neighborhood Crime Prevention

• Neighborhood Watch

• Citizen Patrols

• Volunteers in Police Service

• Citizen Police Academies

Neighborhood Watch

• Establishes a Sense of Community, Cohesiveness and Unity of Purpose.

• Establishes contact with Police Department and neighborhood services.

• Good neighbor program, not just about crime.

Neighborhood Watch

• Started by the National Sheriff’s Association over 30 years ago.

• Aim was to prevent residential burglary, a major crime problem at the time.

• One of the best ways for citizens and law enforcement to work together to prevent crime.

• Today, is touted as a way for communities to prevent all types of crime, including terrorism.

Neighborhood Watch Objectives

• Reduce levels of fear of crime in the community

• Improve or create neighborhood cohesiveness

• Improve reporting characteristics of citizens

• Increase natural surveillance in the community

• Prevent and reduce crime

• Support Homeland Security

The President’s Call

In 2002, President Bush called on communities throughout America to double participation

in Neighborhood Watch to support Homeland Security.

Neighborhood Watch - Types

• Static Watch - Observe and Report

• Active Watch - Walking Patrols

• Active Watch - Vehicle Patrols

Neighborhood Watch

What’s a Snitch?

a thief - an informer

Neighborhood Watch - Components

• Planning Committee

• Block or Road Captain Volunteers

• Training - observation skills & crime prevention

• Communications – telephone / email tree tree

• Community and home warning signs

• Law Enforcement support

Neighborhood Watch

• Get maps of target areas – identify accepted neighborhood boundary lines

• Contact Community Development for a list of existing civic associations - go to meetings

• Hold meetings in the neighborhood at churches, schools, libraries - places easily accessible to the public

Block Captains Duties

• Establish a meeting schedule and location

• Organize a Neighborhood Phone or Email Tree

• Disseminate crime prevention literature & brochures

• Disseminate Crime Statistics/Information as needed

Block Meetings

• At least four per year

• First meeting - get acquainted, handouts, statistics, etc.

• Within walking distance from home

• No more than one hour

• Set a date for the next meeting

Telephone or Email Tree Neighborhood Communications

• For large groups - series of phone trees or emails

• For individual blocks - one

• Test the phone or email tree

Telephone - Email Tree Information

WHAT INFORMATION WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO INCLUDE?

• Name, Address, phone number (s), email• Number, age and sex of people in house• Vehicle information• pet information• other?

Neighborhood Patrols

• Groups may decide to walk or drive.

• Determine how long to patrol and how many volunteers are likely to be recruited.

• Decide where and when the patrols will take place.

Neighborhood Patrols

• Should not carry any type of weapon.

• Should not take enforcement action.

• Should not engage in physical contact.

• Should not be considered a security or police function.

Orange Hat Patrols

Groups of citizens, often in the company of police officers, who walk the neighborhood for about an hour.

They pick up trash, note any missing signs or burned out streetlights, and provide a visible presence for concerned residents in the area.

Neighborhood Patrols

Police can offer training on:

• What to look for

• How to report crimes

• Personal Safety when patrolling

• Safety and Security Hazards

Neighborhood Watch High Crime Areas

• Conduct a neighborhood analysis of target area

• Set up safety talks and crime specific prevention talks

• Encourage reporting through anonymous tip lines

• Assure names, etc will remain anonymousCode of VirginiaSecurity of Neighborhood Watch records

Neighborhood Watch Records Security

1992 General Assembly - Virginia

• Amended Code of Va. 2.1-342 relating to Freedom of Information .

• Records of Neighborhood Watch participants when given to Police Departments under the promise of confidentiality are EXLUDED from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act

Neighborhood Watch Police Support

• Maintain contact with the Block Captains

• Update and provide crime data

• Newsletters - Crime Prevention Literature

• Recognize good job by watches

• Letter/certificate from Chief or Sheriff

• News media stories

Neighborhood Watch Police Support

• Perform security surveys and neighborhood safety assessments

• Schedule other crime prevention training

• Personal Safety• Operation Identification• Residential Security• others?

Homeland Security

• Be aware and attuned to your surroundings - home, work, leisure and travel

• Know the routines, it helps you spot the unusual - eighborhood, community, work

• Take what you hear seriously - if it sounds serious report it to law enforcement

• Make a list or important local telephone numbers.

• Know how to reach members of your family.

• Pay particular attention to children, seniors and people with disabilities.

• Make your house easy to find.

• Organize an emergency preparedness kit.

• Take a First Aid and/or CPR course.

Emergency Planning

Neighborhood Watch Benefits

• Fosters Good Relations with Citizens

• Crime and Offender information

• Volunteer Base

• Phone numbers/ emails /names of people in area

• Police can meet people in area/ beat

• Positive media coverage

Neighborhood Watch in Virginia

Summer 2002 SurveyDepartment of Criminal Justice Services

Neighborhood Watch - Virginia

34

60

22

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Cities Counties Towns

Neighborhood Watch - Virginia 2002

LocalityLocality Groups Groups

1. Fairfax County 1. Fairfax County 1,2001,2002. Chesterfield County 2. Chesterfield County 290 2903. Newport News3. Newport News 219 2194. Albemarle County4. Albemarle County 155 1555. Hampton5. Hampton 53 53

Total in Virginia 2002Total in Virginia 2002 4,753 4,753

Total in Virginia 1984Total in Virginia 1984 2,1582,158

5 Largest NW Programs

21% Very Active21% Very Active

20% More Active than Inactive20% More Active than Inactive

39% Mixed (50-50 active and inactive)39% Mixed (50-50 active and inactive)

18% More Inactive than Active18% More Inactive than Active 2% Very Inactive2% Very Inactive

Neighborhood Watch - Most Active

57% conduct foot or car patrols57% conduct foot or car patrols

57% participate in National Nite Out 57% participate in National Nite Out

59% Operation Identification services59% Operation Identification services

78% home security surveys on a request78% home security surveys on a request

Neighborhood Watch - Activities

VA Neighborhood Watch Resources

VCPA - Neighborhood Watch coordinator links

http://vcpa.org/Neighborhood%20Watch/NW%20in%20VA%202002.htm

Department of Criminal Justice ServicesNeighborhood Watch Study

http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/cple/documents/2003NeighborhoodWatch.pdf

Neighborhood Watch Resources

National Association of Town Watch

PO Box 3031 Wynnewood Road, Suite 102Wynnewood, PA 19096(610) 649-7055Contact: Matt Peskin, Executive Director

National Night Out - first Tuesday in August

Neighborhood Watch Resources

National Sheriffs’ Association

1450 Duke StreetAlexandria, VA 22314(703) 838-5330 FAX (703) 519-8567Contact: Robbi Woodson, rwoodson@sheriffs.orgDirector of Crime Prevention & Neighborhood Watch

Volunteers in Police Service - VIPS

The VIPS Program provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency.

The program’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers .

Citizen’s Police Academy

• The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to foster better communication between citizens and police through education.

• The Academy will create a nucleus of well-informed citizens who possess greater insight into police practices and services. Learn about the Division's mission and Community Policing Philosophy