Benefits of Neighborhood Watch
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH plays a role at in both rural and urban communities. It has the support of county, state, and national organizations. At one New York State web site you can read in more detail information on the importance of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. Eight benefits of NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH are listed and include the following:
1. Deters criminal activity.
2. Creates a greater sense of security and reduces fear of crime.
3. Builds bonds with neighbors; people look out for one another; it stimulates neighborhood awareness.
4. Reduces the risk of becoming a crime victim; it reduces the physical financial and psychological costs of crime.
5. Instructs resident on how to observe and report suspicious activities in your community.
6. Addresses quality of life issues and mutual interests in your community.
7. Enhances homeland security; and
8. Works collaboratively with other civic activities.
In New York State, the Office of the Attorney General maintains this web site with information and links for additional organizations.
You can find the web site at www.oag.state.ny.us/crime/neighborhood _watch.
At the same site you will find the results of a periodic national crime survey, Are We Safe?, done by the National Crime Prevention Council. “Eighty-three percent agree or strongly agree that we should work with our neighbors to solve community problems.” And “Fully one in four names getting involved with the community as one thing to prevent crime.” Those who wish to volunteer to help in their neighborhood should contact the Citizens Committee.
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Ten Steps to Establishing Neighborhood Watch
1. SURVEY.
Survey residents and business people asking them about:
their concerns,
interests, and
their willingness to work for their neighborhood.
Use the information from the survey to identify a laundry list of issues.
Create a detailed list of those interested in joining a neighborhood watch.
2. SEEK HELP FROM EXISTING GROUPS.
Get guidance, assistance, and information from existing community & not-for-profit organizations and experienced community activists. Members of those organizations may wish to join your effort. Their by-laws and mission statements may be good models on which to draw.
By networking, coordinating, cooperating, sharing and collaborating, neighborhood residents and business people can achieve their objectives more easily than if they were working in isolation. When alliances among different groups are established, people see that they have more in common than they previously imagined, and that there is more to be gained by partnering on projects.
3. DEVELOP STRATEGIES
Work with a core group on recruiting and mobilizing a larger group of interested people in order to hold a start-up/planning meeting.
Conduct outreach to other stakeholders including religious institutions, schools and businesses.
4. FOLLOW UP ON CONTACTS
with the County Sheriff’s Office to develop a good working relationship.
Invite Deputy Sheriff Scott Bonno to speak at the start-up meeting.
Anti-crime activists achieve good results when they work collaboratively with law enforcement and other justice agencies.
Discussions with law enforcement should include an assessment of the problems in your community and the development of a safety patrol.
Address with them membership recruitment, bylaws and training. An ongoing relationship should be fostered!
5. HOLD A START-UP MEETING.
Formulate a mission statement.
Establish priorities or goals for Neighborhood Watch.
6. CONDUCT OUTREACH TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
Additionally, contact local businesses and ask for support in terms of volunteers and materials.
Stakeholders may be willing to provide materials for a patrol.
Work to maintain relationships with these stakeholders, as they can be sources of continuing support.
7. INITIATE TRAINING IN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES.
Identify drug-dealing and other suspicious situations that could exist.
Find out how to report information to the police,
how to make accurate descriptions of persons who appear to be involved in criminal activities,
where and whom to call in an emergency.
Train volunteers on resource referrals.
Consult the Sheriff’s Department for crime-prevention groups to train volunteers in the above-mentioned topics and provide an overview of the law.
8. DEVELOP POLICIES & PROCEDURES.
Encourage people to join the neighborhood watch.
New recruits should be trained in the principles or mission of the organization and the way patrols operates.
Encourage new members to actively pursue their interests and serve on any committees.
9. PLAN A REGULAR PATROL SCHEDULE
Notify the Sheriff’s Department of the schedule.
Ensure that contact is maintained with the Department.
Maintain contact with a "home base."
10. IDENTIFY ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Activities might include community clean-ups, community parties, community gardens, code enforcement, and youth recreation.
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