If you have issues viewing or accessing this file, please contact us at NCJRS.gov. COIlIIIlURh~. This publication was made possible througla Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 95-1)D-BX- KO03 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions are those of NCPC or cited sources and do not necessarily reflect U.S. Department of Justice policy or positions. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime. The National Crime Prevention Council is a private, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization whose principal mission is to enable people to prevent crime and build safer, more caring communities. NCPC publishes books, kits of camera-ready program materials, posters, and informational and policy reports on a variety of crime prevention and community-building subjects. NCPC offers training, technical assistance, a national focus for crime prevention and acts as secretariat for the Crime Prevention Coalition, more than 135 national, federal, and state organizations committed to preventing crime, it also operates demonstration programs and takes a major leadership role in comprehensive community crime prevention strategies and youth crime prevention. NCPC manages the McGruff"Take A Bite Out Of Crime" public service advertising campaign, which is substantially funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Distribution was made possible in part by a generous grant from ADT Security Systems, Inc., a corporate partner of the National Crime Prevention Council. ~url~ SlmtOtT~ Acknowledgments: A special thanks toJohn A. Calhoun, NCPC's Executive Director; Director Nancy E. Gist, Bureau of.Justice Assistance; Principal writers: Judy Kirby. Mary Jo Marvin Mary F. Santonastasso, Director, Discretionary Grants Program Cover design: Veronica J. Morrison Division, BJA; Robert H. Brown, Jr., Chief Crime Prevention Photo: © Mike Yamashita/Woodfin Camp Branch, BJA; and Maria Amato, Program Specialist, BJA, for Printer: Presstar Printing their expertise and continued support. Other key NCPC staff: Jacqueline Aker, Katie Basinski. Louis Copyright © 1996 National Crime Prevention Council Dominguez. Jodie Fine, Caren Garfield. Mac Gray. LeAnn Logue. Honora Precoort. Margaret McDonnell, Jean O'Neil, All rights reserved, except that these materials may be repro- Kartine Pendleton, Marry Pociask, John Rosiak, Christopher duced in whole or in part with proper attribution so IonS as the Scileppi, and Faye Warren. reproductions are for nonprofit use and not for sale or resale. Crime Prevention Coalition Advisory Group: Kevin Barry. Crime Prevention Association of Connecticut; Printed in the United States of America, July 1996 Cindy Brown. Oklahoma Department of Public Safety; Betsy National Crime Prevention Council Cantrell, National Sheriffs' Association; Linda Gran-Hartshorn, 1700 K Street, NW, Second Floor Iowa Crime Prevention Association; Domingo Herraiz, Ohio Washington, DC 2OOO6-3817 Crime Prevention Association; Vaierie Mariano, Hawaii 2O2-466-6272 Department of the Attorney General; Scott Minier. Indiana Crime Prevention Coalition: Don Perretz, Wisconsin Del~rtmenr of Justice; Teri Poppino, Crime Prevention Association of Oregon; Antony Queen, North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety; Nathaniel Robinson, Wisconsin Of~ce ofJ ustice Assistance; and David Rost, Missouri Department of Public Safety, 1996 October Sponsored by the Crime Prevention Coalition TABLE OF CONTENTS Crime Prevention Month '96 Celebrates Grassroots Partnerships ............................. 2 Statistics Reveal the Realities of Crime .............................................................. 3 Partnerships That Work .................................................................................. 5 Proclaim October as Crime Prevention Month ...................................................... 7 Sample Press Release .................................................................................... 8 Engaging Youth in Crime Prevention .................................................................. 9 The High-Tech World of Crime Prevention ......................................................... I0 Planning a Crime Prevention Event? Use These Checklists .................................... 12 Calendar of Observances .............................................................................. 17 "Take A Bite Out Of Crime ®" With McGruff ~ and Scruff ~ Licensed Educational Products . .20 Selected Resources From NCPC ..................................................................... 22 The Crime Prevention Coalition ...................................................................... 24 Look for the more than 30 reproducible brochures, posters, and articles in the back pocket. Selected and designed to complement each section of the guide, they're invaluable tools to help spread your crime prevention messages. CRIME PREVENTION MONTH "96 CELEBRATES GRASSROOTS PARTNERSHIPS (.~J~ Crime Prevention Month, pride to schools, neighborhoods, and the Washington Post newspaper found gives communities the opportunity to entire cities where crime has dropped that two in three Americans believe look at what's working for the com- as a result of comprehensive commu- that most people can't be trusted, a mon good and to honor individuals nity action. The latest FBI and the drastic reversal from three decades ago who take personal responsibility for National Crime Victimization Survey and an attitude that poses significant their neighborhoods. It's also a time to reports show decreases in almost all barriers to community mobilization. celebrate and nurture collaborations, major types of crime. A new Harris The survey also found that being a the essential element in mobilizing poll reveals that 9 in 10 teens are will- victim of crime makes an individual today's diverse communities to act. ing to get involved in programs that even more distrustful of other people can prevent crime. and erodes confidence in government's This year's theme -- Safer abilities to solve problems. Communities, Brighter Futures-- But violent crime committed by juve- reflects the Crime Prevention niles and against juveniles rises steadi- How can we deal with these divergent Coalition's strong belief that grass- ly. "The demographics of this nation trends -- progress today in reducing roots action drives crime from our make quite clear that the number of crime and reclaiming communities streets and brings back hope for a bet- young people in the age group of 14 versus escalating youth violence and ter future. It's not an idealistic or to 17 will increase significantly over growing distrust? The challenge clear- unrealistic view. For almost 16 years, the next 20 years," warned Attorney ly stands before us. We must forge the National Citizens' Crime General Janet Reno at the kick-off for visionary partnerships for change -- Prevention Campaign and its most Crime Prevention Month 1995. collaborations that prevent crime and visible symbol, McGruff ~ the Crime "Unless we come together to prevent attack its root causes, reach out to Dog, have convinced individuals of all this violence, we are going to see a young people as resources not threats, ages that they can prevent crime and more violent nation," she concluded. and rebuild trust in fellow citizens build community. We point with A 1996 national poll conducted for and community institutions. You can get motivated by thinking of something in your neighborhood that you are adamant about changing...something that you feel detracts from your quality o[ life...some persons who need a helping hand...The problem will not be solved nor will the need be met until you commit your time, talents, contacts and resources to create a neighborhood that you are proud to live in. Marcia E. Hope, Director, Neighborhood Services Office, City of Orlando, Florida 2 STATISTICS REVEAL THE REALITIES Families %iolence OF CRIME • More than one-third of Americans have witnessed an • Personal crimes generate $105 • About 36 percent of all crimes incident of domestic violence. billion annually in property and and 42 percent of violent crimes Nearly nine out of ten productivity losses and medical were reported to the police. Americans say that women expenses. This amounts to an (NCVS, 1994) being beaten is a serious prob- annual "crime tax" of roughly lem facing many families --and $425 per man, woman, and concern cuts across race, gender, child in the United States. Crime's Victims and age lines. Four out of five (National Institute of Justice, believe something can be done 1996) to reduce domestic violence. (Family Violence Prevention • Between 1988 and 1992, juve- • Violent crime -- aggravated nile arrests for violent crime Fund) assault, robbery, forcible rape, increased 50 percent. Persons and murder -- reported to law • Four in ten girls between the most likely to be victimized by enforcement in 1995 declined 4 ages of 14 and 17 report that juveniles were also young, percent from the previous year, they or a friend their age has between 12 and 19 years old. according to the FBI's Uniform been physically abused by a (NCVS and UCR) Crime Reporting (UCR) pro- boyfriend. (Children Now, a national advocacy organization) gram which tabulates crime • The