Programs
Changing Our Communities Through Crime Prevention
Volume 30, Number 4 - May 2009
As of the December issue, NCPC will be suspending the publication of Catalyst. For up-to-date information on crime prevention, please log on to www.ncpc.org.
Editor: Martin W.G. King
In This Issue
Editorial
Making Sure Our Young People Thrive
By Alfonso E. Lenhardt, President and CEO
It is up to all of us to protect what matters most, and our young people are high on that list.
Our Top Stories
Get the Word Out About School Safety
By Joselle Shea, NCPC Staff
Parents shouldn’t have to worry while their kids are at school, but many do. Crime prevention practitioners recommend five ways that schools can communicate with parents about their safety efforts, which may lead to greater participation by parents in school activities.
Georgia County Uses Kid-Friendly Technology To Root Out Crime in Schools
By Courtney Beal Spriggs, Guest Contributor
Faced with rising drug and gang crime, local agencies in Forsyth County, GA, collaborated to provide a kid-friendly way for students to provide anonymous tips on real or potential crime at school.
News Notes
H1N1 Flu Precautions for the Public and Law Enforcement
By NCPC Staff
There is no cause for panic. But the resources in this special section of Catalyst may prove helpful to law enforcement personnel and members of the public alike.
McGruff Corner
McGruff Goes to Law School
By Jeff Broderson, NCPC Staff
McGruff spent March 25th at one of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, Georgetown University Law School in Washington, DC. Georgetown University’s Public Safety Office had decided that the law students needed to get involved in crime prevention and learn how to protect themselves and their communities.
Officers from the Public Safety Office, led by Communications Officer Anil Mohabir, hosted an all-day on-campus appearance by McGruff, and officers passed out crime prevention materials, many of which they had downloaded free from NCPC’s website. They also gave out Georgetown University publications. The focus was “preventing crime in your community” and personal safety.
As universities are preparing for graduation and summer break, they should still be conscious of the threats that affect their students. Be proactive, don’t wait for an incident to occur, get out there and start talking to students and give them crime prevention information. Remember, crime prevention is everyone’s business and everyone needs to keep themselves, their families, and their communities—including college campuses—safe from crime.
Resources Worth Noting
Every month, we assemble announcements of exciting publications, events, and more.
Prevention Works Blog Feed
April 7, 2009: Beware of the Black Dollar
— In recent months, new versions of the infamous Nigerian money and banking scams have come...
April 14, 2009: Thinking About the Unthinkable — Homeland security is rooted in hometown security. The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, once etched vividly in every American's memory, may be receding in the country's collective consciousness, but it is up to all of us to make sure that our country stays safe—and prepared—for any eventuality. Each citizen, civic official, faith leader, and business leader must be confident that his or her community's first responder organization can react effectively to any assault and, more importantly, knows exactly what is expected of him or her if the unthinkable should happen again.
April 22, 2009: Gunplay — "Curiosity killed the cat." Remember this phrase, because never have four words had graver implications....
April 28, 2009: The Economy and Crime — As the economy worsens, there is debate about whether it is to blame for the...
May 5, 2009: The Ultimate Price—and Responsibility — The National Crime Prevention Council mourns the loss of four police officers in the shooting tragedy that unfolded recently in Oakland, CA. Sergeants Mark Dunakin, Erv Romans, Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege were lost in the line of duty defending the safety of the people of Oakland, the safety that all of us, in communities across the country, depend on and, all too often, take for granted. The loss of these officers was the most in one day since the September 11th attacks.
May 12, 2009: Highlighting Norms Can Reduce Crime — There is a common perception that public service messaging is not as effective as commercial...
May 19, 2009: Breaking the Code of Silence — While there is still debate over how the recession will continue to impact crime over the next few years, there is little debate about the important role that the community plays in the fight against crime. While communities must take the lead, I continually hear from law enforcement officers that communities are not engaged.
May 27, 2009: Battling Gangs: A Novel Use of Civil Injunctions — According National District Attorney's Association (NDAA), the United States has 30,000 gangs with 800,000 members whose crimes, tactics, and strategies are getting more sophisticated each day. Communities and local law enforcement agencies are responding with new strategies as well—in this case, the use of civil injunctions to disrupt gang activities.
Reproduction of articles for nonprofit use is granted by the National Crime Prevention Council.
This publication was made possible through Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 2008-DD-BX-0687 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions are those of NCPC or cited sources and do not necessarily reflect U.S. Department of Justice policy or positions. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.
The National Crime Prevention Council is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Contributions are welcomed and are tax deductible.
Copyright © 2009 National Crime Prevention Council. All rights reserved. McGruff the Crime Dog® and "Take A Bite Out Of Crime®" are registered marks of the National Crime Prevention Council.
