Purpose of Neighborhood Watch
The Neighborhood Watch program was founded in 1972 by the National Sheriffs' Association in an effort to help police reduce crime by utilizing the eyes and ears of the community. According to the National Crime Prevention Council, the origin of the program actually goes back to America's colonial time period, when neighborhood streets were patrolled each night by local watchmen.
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Prevent Crime
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The most important purpose of Neighborhood Watch is to prevent crime. The program is rooted in the reality that local police can't patrol all areas of a town or city at all times, and community members can act as volunteers and take responsibility for their neighborhood by maintaining awareness of their surroundings. The program makes use of street signs and window signs as a declaration to would-be criminals that they're being watched.
Community Perception
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The National Crime Prevention Council advises local watch programs to know the facts about their neighborhood's crime statistics by talking to police and reading police reports. The Council states that more often than not, "residents' opinions are not supported by facts, and accurate information can reduce the fear of crime." As such, one of the main purposes of a Neighborhood Watch is to find out the community's perception and misapprehension about local crime, and educate them on the facts.
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Provide Education
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The National Neighborhood Watch program provides its local chapters with access to a large library of educational material. For example, it partners with drug prevention organizations to educate the community on how to stop or avert local drug problems. Some of the many topics the program educates its members on include: neighborhood safety tips for parents, drug prevention, gas station theft prevention, Halloween safety, hate crimes, violent crime and personal safety.
Strengthen Communities
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Neighborhood Watch brings communities together. Neighborhoods that implement the program have monthly meetings where neighbors can voice concerns or present prevention and solution ideas to potential or current problems. Therefore, through the program, residents who were previously unknown to one another have regular conversations. Organized neighbors go door-to-door in an effort to educate and recruit other community members. Neighbors who rarely leave home are often asked to be "window watchers" in an effort to keep an eye on children.
Beyond Local Crime Prevention
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Neighborhood Watch extends beyond community crime awareness and prevention. For example, it partners with the Bureau of Justice Assistance to educate neighborhoods on influenza pandemics. It exists under its parent organization, the Citizens Corp, which goes further to train community members how to spot and report potential terrorist activity, as well as how to respond in emergency situations, such as natural disasters. The programs are similar in many respects, and volunteers can enroll in both.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit neighborhood watch poster image by robert mobley from Fotolia.com
