NCJ Number
57420
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 26-34
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
A 2-YEAR CRIME PREVENTION DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM CONDUCTED IN THE FORMERLY HIGH CRIME AREA OF FONTANA, CALIF., SUCCEEDED; SIMILAR PROGRAMS ELSEWHERE HAVE FAILED.
Abstract
THE GREATER FONTANA COMMUNITY-BASED HI-IMPACT CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM USED AN INDEPTH APPROACH TO CRIME PREVENTION INVOLVING BOTH THE CITIZENS AND AGENCIES OF THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND EMPHASIZING INTERAGENCY COOPERATION, THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES, AND A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR CITIZENS AND LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY COMPLETELY SUPPORTED THE PROJECT AND THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS USED SOPHISTICATED STATISTICAL MEASURES AND CONTROLS TO CONTINUALLY MONITOR PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. A STEERING COMMITTEE MADE UP LARGELY OF CITIZENS GATHERED VICTIMIZATION DATA, DISTRIBUTED CRIME SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES, AND MAINTAINED CLOSE COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE GREATER FONTANA COMMUNITY. IT IDENTIFIED BURGLARY AS THE MOST IMPORTANT CRIME PROBLEM AND TARGETED ITS VARIOUS PROGRAMS, INCLUDING NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH SECURITY SURVEYS, AND OPERATION IDENTIFICATION, TO PREVENTING THIS CRIME. AFTER 2 YEARS OF PROJECT OPERATION, THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS REVEALED THAT FONTANA'S RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY RATE DROPPED 25.8 PERCENT TO ITS 1973 LEVEL, WHILE RATES IN SIMILAR CONTROL CITIES INCREASED. NONE OF THE 600 HOMES PARTICIPATING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM WERE VICTIMIZED DURING 1978. THE STEERING COMMITTEE DEVELOPED INTO A PERMANENT LOCAL CITY COUNCIL COMMISSION. KEY ELEMENTS OF THE SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM WERE ITS HEAVY RELIANCE ON THE CITIZENRY AND PUBLIC AGENCIES, ITS EXTENSIVE SURVEYING, AND ITS CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES. (DAG)