Getting Started on Safety and Crime Prevention

• To maximize resources and increase effectiveness, local government crime prevention plans can include collaboration among multiple departments, agencies and community groups, including public health, housing, economic development, law enforcement, probation, faith- and community-based organizations and schools.


• Local policy-makers, community members and schools can partner to create safe routes to school or other school safety efforts.


• State legislatures and local governments can provide funding to local law enforcement departments to ensure law enforcement officers can provide assistance to community policing organizations.


• Local and state government agencies, including those with jurisdiction over health, probation, economic development and law enforcement can partner and develop joint crime-prevention strategies.


• Local and state government officials can work with the police departments and other city agencies to increase patrol in high-crime areas. They can tailor interventions to the setting and desired type of activity, and focus on the worst areas first.


• Local government and school officials can meet with community members, including faith-based community organizations, to form neighborhood watch groups.


• Law enforcement agencies can apply for start-up funding for community programs from the Community Oriented Policing Services program.


• Local governments can also apply for Community Development Block Grants to revitalize blighted areas and clean up vacant lots.


• Local government officials and community groups can work together to identify existing coalitions in the community, and to offer support and strategies to focus their efforts beyond law enforcement solutions.