United States National Neighborhood Watch Program
The United States National Neighborhood Watch Program, commonly known as Neighborhood Watch, is a community-based initiative aimed at enhancing citizen involvement in crime prevention and safety. Developed by the National Sheriffs' Association in response to the need for increased public participation in law enforcement, the program encourages neighborhoods to form watch groups that collaborate with local police to deter crime. The origins of neighborhood watches can be traced back to colonial America, where informal groups patrolled areas due to the absence of formal police forces.
Established in 1972, the program aims to foster communication between residents and law enforcement, with members encouraged to report suspicious activities. Over time, neighborhood watch groups have adapted their strategies to address specific local issues, engaging in activities such as neighborhood patrols, security assessments, community clean-ups, and support for vulnerable residents. In 2002, the program expanded with the launch of USAonWatch, later renamed National Neighborhood Watch, which continues to evolve by integrating modern challenges such as substance abuse and human trafficking into its framework. Funded by federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the program’s central goal remains the promotion of safe and secure communities across the United States.
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United States National Neighborhood Watch Program
The United States National Neighborhood Watch Program, also called the Neighborhood Watch, is an initiative developed by the National Sheriffs’ Association to increase civilian involvement in crime prevention. Initially, the organization encouraged citizens to report information to the police, allowing law enforcement officers to respond to crimes. However, the program later came to encourage the development of neighborhood watch groups, which work together to actively reduce crime in a given neighborhood.
Overview
The concept of a neighborhood watch is older than the United States itself, and the first neighborhood watch programs can be traced back to the colonial era. At that time, formal police forces were not present in all areas, so informal watchmen patrolled the streets. These citizens worked on their own or with small groups of people to reduce crime in the area in which they lived. Some of these groups also functioned as slave patrols, which chased and tried to recapture enslaved people trying to escape from the brutal conditions of slavery.
The modern version of these informal watchmen, the National Neighborhood Watch Program, was created at the request of numerous police and sheriff departments. In certain areas, especially rural regions, it may be difficult for law enforcement to maintain a large enough presence to deter crimes such as vandalism and burglary. To help solve this problem, law enforcement organizations sought to create a program that would increase the involvement of citizens in the law enforcement process. In 1972, the National Sheriffs’ Association sought funding to create a national-level initiative that would help accomplish this goal across the United States. After a grant from the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) provided the necessary funding, and the National Sheriffs’ Association set to work, creating the United States National Neighborhood Watch Program.
In the early years of the program, its goal was to encourage citizens to share more information with their local law enforcement organizations. For example, a local citizen might notice that an act of vandalism had occurred. If the citizen reports the vandalism to the police as soon as they see it, the police might be able to collect additional evidence, which could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the crime. Additionally, knowing that members of the community are actively working with police to report and stop crimes might intimidate criminals and act as a deterrent, reducing the number of crimes carried out in that community.
Later, the program began encouraging citizens to come together to form their own neighborhood watch groups. These groups meet regularly to discuss how they will work alongside local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. Because neighborhoods across the United States face different types of crime, the needs of one neighborhood watch group might necessitate tactics and actions that differ from others. For example, some neighborhood watch groups actively patrol neighborhoods, similar to how law enforcement conducts patrols. Others make home security surveys, helping to make the neighborhood more secure and reduce burglaries. Still others organize neighborhood clean-ups, assist the homeless, or provide direct aid to those needing help within their neighborhood.
In 2002, the National Sheriff's Association, USA Freedom Corps, and the Department of Justice launched the USAonWatch program as a loose national grouping of neighborhood watches. That program was renamed National Neighborhood Watch and continues into the twenty-first century. The program receives funding from several federal groups, including the Department of Justice. The program continues to evolve along with contemporary neighborhood safety issues. This includes traditional crime prevention and updated programs focusing on modern issues such as substance abuse and human trafficking. Neighborhood watch programs also integrate technology and concentrate on emergency preparedness. The focus of the US National Neighborhood Watch programs, however, remains on creating safe American communities.
Bibliography
“About National Neighborhood Watch.” NNW, www.nnw.org/about-national-neigborhood-watch. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“Crime Prevention.” National Sheriffs’ Association, www.sheriffs.org/programs/crime-prevention. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“Neighborhood Watch Manual.” U.S. Department of Justice, 2021, bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/NSA‗NW‗Manual.pdf. Accessed 14 May 2021.
“Starting and Growing a Neighborhood Watch.” StaySafe, staysafe.org/starting-and-growing-a-neighborhood-watch. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“Tools and Resources To Help You Start or Maintain a Neighborhood Watch Program.” National Crime Prevention Council, www.ncpc.org/resources/home-neighborhood-safety/neighborhood-watch. Accessed 21 May 2024.
“USAonWatch.” National Neighborhood Watch, 2021, https://www.nnw.org/usaonwatchorg. Accessed 14 May 2021.
“What Is Neighborhood Watch?” NNW, www.nnw.org/what-neighborhood-watch. Accessed 21 May 2024.
Yarlagadda, Tara. “Who Watches Neighborhood Watch Programs?” How Stuff Works, 15 Aug. 2019, people.howstuffworks.com/neighborhood-watch-programs.htm. Accessed 14 May 2021.