National Crime Prevention Council
Working to “Take A Bite Out of Crime®”

Protecting What Matters Most

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is the nation’s leader in crime prevention. As a private, nonprofit organization, NCPC helps millions of Americans keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime.

NCPC’s flagship public education campaign—symbolized by McGruff the Crime Dog® and his iconic “Take A Bite Out Of Crime” catchphrase—has broadened its scope from strengthening personal and home safety to include cyberbullying, anti-counterfeiting and gun safety. To support this outreach, NCPC has established a national network of nearly 15,000 crime prevention professionals and national, federal, state, and local organizations through the Crime Prevention Coalition of America and the National Crime Prevention Association.

NCPC’s work is funded by a variety of government agencies–including the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office–along with numerous foundations and individual donations. Dedicated corporate sponsors help us reach millions of Americans nationwide.

How We Work

NCPC provides hands on support to help Americans and their communities prevent crime. It focuses innovative tools — research-driven approaches, best practice tips and a network of nearly 15,000 allies and partners — to create hands-on demonstration programs in schools and neighborhoods, provide training and support for local crime prevention efforts, and distribute easy to use crime prevention tips and resources (in person, and through the media and public service advertising campaigns). NCPC’s core strengths include training, convening stakeholders, program development, and public education.

In-depth Opinion Research Informs Our Approach: NCPC works with expert public opinion researchers to better understand Americans’ experience with different types of crime, as well as their readiness to become involved in crime prevention activities, local police, and community engagement efforts. These insights help NCPC develop and guide strategies, engage community leaders and catalyze effective partnerships between law enforcement and neighborhoods. These findings also help NCPC create outreach tools tailored to specific issues and audiences, like reducing teen purchases of counterfeit products.

NCPC Provides Curricula, Tools, & Support for Community Partners: NCPC develops school curricula, interactive and print materials, and social media toolkits with helpful tips and resources customized for children, youth, adults, and seniors.

Public Education Campaigns: NCPC public education campaigns reach millions of Americans every year through advertising, social media, and its website (www.ncpc.org), and by providing communities with interactive information kits, posters, and reports on crime prevention and community-building methods. NCPC was founded by the Justice Department, the Ad Council, private philanthropists, and crime prevention practitioners across the country to engage the American public in community and crime prevention, Its public service advertising campaigns have leveraged investments and generated more than $2 billion in donated media since 1980.

Protecting Children from Crime: NCPC’s efforts to protect children have included a special McGruff website featuring age-appropriate games, stories, and advice from McGruff himself. He’s looking forward to reaching millions more young people as he jumps with all four paws into the world of social media.

A Trusted & Recognized Messenger: 40 years since McGruff’s first TV appearance, millions of children, teens, and adults recognize him–and thousands of law enforcement agencies use McGruff costumes at school and community events to spread the word about prevention.

NCPC Believes:

  • Crime can and should be prevented
  • Truly effective prevention requires addressing causes of crime and reducing opportunities for it to occur.
  • Everyone, no matter what age, position, or capacity, can and must take individual action to stop crime.
  • The problems of crime, violence, and drug abuse are best addressed though local action supported by local and state policies.
  • Comprehensive crime prevention action plans (coordinated strategies and policies that address causes as well as occurrences of crime) are vital to long-term community success against crime.
  • Partnerships that actively involve the local community and its residents are key to preventing crime.
  • Prevention is a highly cost-effective alternative to the costs of crime to individuals, neighborhoods, and communities.
  • Crime prevention action should be grounded in research and tested approaches and aided by evaluation.