Crime Prevention Materials

For more than 30 years, NSA has consistently provided cost-effective and community-effective crime prevention materials for use by law enforcement and private citizens in their Neighborhood Watch efforts. NSA makes available a comprehensive array of materials -- perfect for groups in the formative stage, well-established groups, or groups that wish to revitalize their current program.

Among the items NSA makes available are:

Metal Road Signs
Window decals
Magnetic car signs
Neighborhood Watch video Joining Forces explaining the Neighborhood Watch concept and steps for organizing a Neighborhood Watch group in your community.
Neighborhood Watch Manual in Spanish -- NSA's popular 40 page resource translated into Spanish. The manual covers the role of the community, responsibilities of law enforcement, program goals, and much more! Download Neighborhood Watch Order Card Brochure here.
Many of our printed brochures and booklets are now available online at www.usaonwatch.org!

Email NSA's Crime Prevention Section.

Resources:
Crime Prevention Coalition of American(CPCA) – A great way for your agency or organization to be supportive and involved in crime prevention activities is to join the CPCA. The Coalition is a nonpartisan group of more than 400 national, state, federal, and community-based organizations untied to promote and work toward citizen action to prevent crime. Established in 1980, its members include youth development organization, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, federal and state government representatives, state crime prevention associations, and community-based groups. The National Sheriffs' Association is a member of the Executive Committee.

Take 25, launched in 2007 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), a national child safety campaign encouraging parents to talk to children about safety. Created in commemoration of National Missing Children's Day (May 25th) Take 25 has reached thousands of families throughout the United States and abroad. With the help of law enforcement, over 1000 Take 25 events will be hosted in 2009. This year, law enforcement has made commitments to host events, provide child ID kits to children, and distribute safety information to communities nationwide. To get involved visit www.Take25.org.

Celebrate Safe Communites

Crime Prevention – The Neighborhood Watch Program

Neighborhood Watch is one of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in North America. In the late 1960s, an increase in crime heightened the need for a crime prevention initiative focused on residential areas and involving local citizens. The National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) responded, creating the National Neighborhood Watch Program in 1972 to assist citizens and law enforcement.

In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, strengthening and securing communities has become more critical than ever. Neighborhood Watch programs have responded to the challenge, expanding beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response and terrorism awareness.

In 2002, the NSA in partnership with USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps and the U.S. Department of Justice launched USAonWatch^®, the face of the revitalized Neighborhood Watch initiative, which represents the expanded role of watch programs throughout the United States.

USAonWatch^® empowers citizens to become active in homeland security efforts through participation in Neighborhood Watch groups. Many neighborhoods already have established watch groups that are vibrant, effective, and can take on this expanded role with ease. For neighborhoods without thriving groups, the renewed emphasis on emergency preparedness and response may provide the right incentive for citizens to participate in Neighborhood Watch in their community.

The goal of the National Neighborhood Watch program is to provide information, training, technical support and resources to local law enforcement agencies and citizens. The training program is designed to build the capacity of law enforcement officers assigned to work with community groups by providing specific instruction on topics important to Neighborhood Watch. In addition to training, Neighborhood Watch has developed a new Toolkit that contains such items as posters, flipbooks on target hardening for the home, and presentations for the community.

To learn more, visit www.usaonwatch.org and browse the site. Check out the Resource Center, subscribe to our newsletter, or register your Neighborhood Watch group.