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Maintaining Neighborhood Watch Programs

NCJ Number
102631
Date Published
1986
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses ways to address the Neighborhood Watch problems of securing citizen leadership, maintaining citizen interest, and managing limited resources.
Abstract
Citizen leadership should be recruited from churches, community-based organizations, neighborhood groups, business associations, unions, and service clubs. An advisory board can be crucial in guiding program operations. Citizen interest can be maintained by focusing on all community issues that pertain to the neighborhood's quality of life. Interest can also be maintained by having citizens assume a major role in program planning. The management of limited resources can be enhanced by mobilizing community resources held by businesses and other community organizations. This approach involves defining resource needs and then finding areas where community resources can be used. Recognition for persons who perform effective work in the Neighborhood Watch program is important for maintaining motivation to serve in the Neighborhood Watch program. Program recommendations are listed and briefly described.