Crime prevention is a community responsibility. Across the United States, citizens are taking back their neighborhoods by forming partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. Mobilized communities have proven resistant to the ravages of drug dealing and violent crime that plague complacent communities.
One of the most successful programs for community empowerment has been Neighborhood Watch. The nationwide promotion of Neighborhood Watch evolved from a two-year study conducted during the mid-1980s entitled the Block Booster Project: "The study found that active block associations substantially reduced fear of crime, encouraged crime reporting, stimulated members' involvement in crime prevention, inhibited drug trafficking, and spurred beautification activities" (Neighborhood, 1993, p. 1).
The three basic types of Neighborhood Watch are passive watch, mobile patrols, or walking patrols. Passive watches are established from stationary points and are well-suited for dense neighborhoods. Residents observe activities while in their homes or while conducting business outside the home. Mobile patrols involve citizens trained by law enforcement officials to observe and report on criminal activity using CB radios or cellular telephones. Walking patrols are usually conducted in pairs of specially trained residents equipped with two-way radios. In each type of watch, residents are cautioned against becoming physically involved with perpetrators of crime (U.S. Congress, 1992, p. 95).
Although many Neighborhood Watch programs were initiated to deal with crisis situations, such as a series of burglaries or robberies, the most successful programs eventually extend the scope of their activities to include a long-range vision for community improvement. Neighborhood Watch programs should be linked with the efforts of other community groups to take advantage of shared resources and establish a comprehensive approach to commu...