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NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

Contributed by: DR. SEAN REIF D.C. on 1/3/2007

In the 1960's, the government instituted a "war on crime", encouraging citizens to protect themselves and their property with added security measures (locks, bars, alarms, and take precautions). While effective, these responses were believed to INCREASE the "fear of crime", people avoided public places, and weakened the community.

To address this concern, citizens started participating in MUTUAL ASSISTANCE and NEIGHBORLINESS. Citizens got out of their homes and involved in collective activities to protect one another and the neighborhood: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH was born.

Residents have organized to watch out for and report suspicious or criminal behavior, for the purpose of deterring such activity in the future. Organized by community groups, law enforcement, or citizens, volunteers attend the meetings to exchange phone numbers, receive training in surveillance and report behavior, and talk about crime problems in their area. Newsletters are often used to spread TIPS and STATISTICS, and SIGNS are posted warning potential criminals they are entering a Neighborhood Watch area. Some have foot and motorized patrols, public education about crime prevention, and Clean Sweep clean-ups. Neighborhood watch crime prevention has more than 50 MILLION adult participants.

Watch-related activities WILL prevent crime and strengthen community. By giving residents additional opportunities for social interaction, leading to information exchange, familiarity, and cohesion among neighbors.

A socially organized community whose citizens exercise informal social control over one another through surveillance, reprimands, warnings, and behavior interventions. These meetings shape the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding the role of ordinary citizens maintain public safety. Additional eyes and ears on the street and a quick citizen response increases the chances that offenders will be detected and apprehended.

Implanting middle-class norms about "neighboring" and reporting suspicious acts help residents to adapt to the local conditions and move beyond the Neighborhood Problems. Watch groups serve as a PLATFORM for organizing community residents around issues and LEVERAGE RESOURCES from other agencies and organizations AS NEEDED.


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Submitted By: DR. SEAN REIF D.C.
posted on 1/3/2007 @ 9:42:32 AM
Rated Story
A neighborhood is a subsection of a larger community - a collection of people and institutions occupying a spatially defined area influenced by ecological, cultural, and sometimes political forces. A local community is best thought of as a single entity, but rather as an assembly of progressively more inclusive residential groupings. Neighborhoods are ecological units nested in successively larger communities. The social characteristics vary widely, including poverty, wealth, occupation, family structure, life style, residential homeownership and for how long, racial / ethnic composition. Daily routine activities bear on children’s well-being within the neighborhood. The location of schools, the mix of residential with commercial land use (taverns, tattoo, strip malls, hotel/motels), public transportation, industrial units, and NIGHT-TIME VISITORS, are when children come in contact with other kids, adults, and non-residents.
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

DR. SEAN REIF D.C.

THORNTON , CO

DR. SEAN REIF D.C. has posted 997 stories and 1147 comments since joining on 9/14/2005. DR. SEAN REIF D.C. 's average story rating is 3.08.
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