The Resource Center: National Night Out effective practices

Involving youth as partners in crime prevention

Despite negative stereotypes, youth exhibit a high rate of volunteerism and commitment to community. Channeling this energy and commitment into crime prevention programs can enhance communities in a variety of ways — including safer schools and safer neighborhoods. This effective practice, excerpted with permission from the National Crime Prevention Council's Young People as Active Partners in Crime Prevention (1996), offers tips for partnering with this important population in crime prevention programs. Read more.

Centralizing social services to reduce crime

This excerpt from the book 350 Tested Strategies to Prevent Crime presents effective practices in crime reduction through centralizing social services with neighborhood centers. Read more.

Preventing crime with ten principles of community policing

Community policing is a practical, effective means of helping law enforcement and citizens identify crime and its related problems, in order to reduce or prevent problems in the future. This effective practice is excerpted from a brochure produced by the Ohio Crime Prevention Association. Read more.

Sponsoring a youth baseball league to prevent crime

The Red Hook Public Safety Corps in Brooklyn, New York runs a youth baseball league at no cost to residents. By providing a safe, positive activity, the program provides an alternative outlet for young people, and is part of a larger crime prevention effort for the neighborhood. Read more.

Working collaboratively to reduce juvenile gun crime in Boston

In the late 1980s, a steep increase in juvenile homicides in Boston concerned residents and officials. Consequently, community organizations, local police and probation officers collaborated in implementing a "zero tolerance" policy for gun violence as well as building support systems for the city's youth. The collaboration significantly lowered the amount of juvenile gun crimes in the city. From the report, Less Hype, More Help: Reducing Juvenile Crime, What Works -- and What Doesn't by Richard Mendel. Read more.

Reducing youth recidivism

In Philadelphia, trained community volunteers — instead of judges — hear the cases of many first-time juvenile offenders. The Youth Aid Panels propose three-month "youth aid contracts," which enable youth to address the causes of their delinquent behavior and become connected to positive influences and activities. From the report, Less Hype, More Help: Reducing Juvenile Crime, What Works -- and What Doesn't by Richard Mendel. Read more.

Providing college graduates with experience in victim rights and crime prevention projects

AmeriCorps, in partnership with the Montgomery County Police Department, often uses college graduates with degrees in criminal justice or social work as volunteers. This provides the graduates with field experience and supplies the program with focused, trained volunteers. The program description is from Effective Practices in Public Safety, 1999. Read more.

Mobilizing a community with a Neighborhood Watch program

Keeping neighborhoods safe and crime free requires awareness and diligence on the part of area residents. Forming a Neighborhood Watch in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies effectively reduces crime and mobilizes communities to be a part of a larger homeland security effort. This effective practice covers the steps involved in forming and sustaining a Neighborhood Watch program, as well as how to plan and implement action, and is excerpted with permission from the Ohio Crime Prevention Association's 1996 publication, Neighborhood Watch and Community Mobilization. Read more.

Linking prison and community-based services to reduce recidivism among young ex-offenders

It has been estimated that approximately 1600 individuals are released from prisons daily, and nearly two-thirds of all released prisoners will be re-arrested within three years. Fostering an individual's transition from prison life to mainstream society can be challenging, especially when working with young offenders. However, recent study has shown that intervention that is supported through post-release supervision is most effective at reducing recidivism. A program in Boston, based on these principles, holds promise for success. Azalea Aguilar of the National Crime Prevention Council submitted this effective practice in February 2006. Read more.

Providing home security and community safety services to residents of low-income communities

This program brief about the Safe Neighborhoods AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP) in Bridgeport, Connecticut presents public safety training and related practices undertaken by AmeriCorps members, resulting in increased community safety and reduced overall costs for the community. Read more.

Using criminal justice students for a community policing project

Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, addresses public safety in the campus neighborhood through a service-learning collaboration between criminal justice college students and community police. This effective practice highlights information from the publication, Criminal Justice Learn and Serve Tech Prep Initiative. Read more.

Preventing telemarketing fraud with an RSVP call center

Every year Americans lose over 40 billion dollars in telemarketing, investment, and charity fraud. Research shows that vulnerable seniors are less likely to fall prey to telemarketing scams when educated by peer mentors. An RSVP program in Los Angeles, California uses telephone solicitation to educate older consumers about what they can do to protect themselves from fraudulent practices. This program was highlighted in the August 2005 issue of the National Service News, published by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Read more.

Fostering police and community relationships

AmeriCorps members build partnerships between police and the community to control and prevent crimes, offer assistance to victims, and enhance the quality of life within the community. Community Assisting Police (CAP) is a collaborative effort between AmeriCorps and the Montgomery County (Maryland) Department of Police that was conducted from 1995-2001. Read more.

Designing a community disaster preparedness plan

It is never too late to institute a disaster preparedness plan within your community. Public health and safety are increased as plans are devised and implemented. These tips can also be modified to create a disaster preparedness plan within your organization. This effective practice is excerpted with permission from the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) website. Read more.

Developing and implementing a Block Parent program

Neighborhoods can become safer places for children and adolescents when parents and volunteers work together with local law enforcement and educational agencies. Volunteers — even the homebound elderly — can serve as Block Parents, providing safe haven to youth in crisis situations, even if they do not have children of their own. This effective practice was adapted from the book, Safe Homes, Safe Neighborhoods: Stopping Crime Where You Live by Stephanie Mann. Read more.

Protecting the rights of victims of domestic violence

Laws to protect victims of domestic violence are only effective when they are understood and enforced by the courts, law enforcement, attorneys, domestic violence counselors, and advocates. Attorneys with the Montana Legal Services Association AmeriCorps*VISTA Project provide legal representation for domestic violence victims to bring specific issues before the court and ensure their legal rights are protected. This paper by Laura Aguiniga and Lori Miller won third place in the 1998 Northwest National Service Symposium, hosted by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL). Read more.

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