A few of us have been working on the public safety issue for close to a year now. I need your
help..anyone who is really interested in making a difference. We have accomplished a few things. We have developed a public safety survey, a public safety manual, and an outline for a comprehensive neighborhood task force focused on public safety. Below is taken from the safety manual. Please contact me off-list if you are interested in joining the effort. Thanks S. The Broken Window Theory The Broken Window Theory was made popular by the work of James Q. Wilson and George Kelling. The theory essentially maintains that there is a relationship between order/maintenance issues in geographic areas and the level of crime that occurs in the same area. They believe that if a neighborhood looks as though no one is caring for it, (i.e. there are abandoned cars, broken windows, people panhandling), then it becomes a magnet for increasing levels of anti-social behavior. The theory suggests that as the order/maintenance problems increase, law-abiding individuals become more fearful and retreat from the area. The fewer law-abiding people involved in the area, the more attractive it becomes to those inclined toward criminal behavior. Soon the balance of that area tips to favor the criminal element rather than law-abiding citizens. Neighborhoods that are cohesive and respond quickly to small changes in their environment have a reduced risk of larger crime problems developing. The Coordinated Block Watch Concept In an era where many people spend their waking hours working and commuting, it is increasingly difficult to get to know your neighbors. A sense of community does not just happen anymore. We have to work at building it. Building a healthy community is well worth the effort; crime is lower in areas where residents engage with each other as neighbors. Safe, healthy neighborhoods provide many settings and ways for people to interact in positive ways with each other. Two of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is through Community Development Projects and Coordinated Block Watch. Coordinated Block Watch does not mean being the neighborhood "know it all" which often undermines trust between neighbors. It does not commit you to extra responsibilities. It means that you facilitate getting to know the people who live around you, report suspicious activity to the police; you may participate in community based improvement projects and work cooperatively with a number of people when problems arise in your neighborhood. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design The physical design of our neighborhood, it's layout, lighting, building and maintenance, can affect the levels of crime and fear in our neighborhood. The "Broken Windows" theory, describes how the quick response to the small problems of broken windows, graffiti, trash, etc can stop the escalation toward bigger crime problems occurring. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, takes this one step further by looking at the entire neighborhood to identify areas or elements that may have the potential to attract crime. Knowing simple design principals can lead to solutions that can be undertaken to reduce fear and prevent crime in these areas and can also help us plan ahead for future development in the neighborhood.
