THE MAIN PURPOSE OF A COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM IS TO REDUCE CRIME AND THE FEAR OF CRIME. THE BACKBONE OF COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION IS ORGANIZING INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS OF A COMMUNITY WITH REGULAR BLOCK MEETINGS IN MEMBERS' HOMES. THESE BLOCKS ARE UNITED INTO A BLOCK ASSOCIATION OF REPRESENTATIVES OF UP TO 25 BLOCKS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY. PURPOSES OF THE ASSOCIATION INCLUDE DEALING WITH PREVALENT OR RECURRING CRIMES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, HELPING CITIZENS AND POLICE TO ATTAIN THE MUTUAL GOALS OF CRIME PREVENTION, SERVING AS A PLATFORM FOR PROGRAMS AND SPEAKERS ON LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN ORDER TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS, AND SERVING AS A FORUM FOR OTHER COMMUNITY ISSUES. AS A RESULT, RESIDENTS BECOME UNITED AND WORK TOGETHER TOWARD A SAFER, STRONGER COMMUNITY. PEOPLES OAKLAND IN PITTSBURGH HAS THESE VITAL FACTORS: (1) WELL-PLANNED PROCEDURES FOR BLOCK ORGANIZING, (2) CITIZENS TRAINED IN CRIME PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, (3) LIAISON ESTABLISHED WITH POLICE, (4) IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATION IDENTIFICATION, (5) BLOCK GROUPS INVOLVED IN OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, (6) A BLOCK ASSOCIATION (7) ORGANIZED NEIGHBORHOOD WALKS, (8) VOLUNTEERS AND A TRAINED ORGANIZER, AND (9) FUNDRAISING TO SUSTAIN THE PROGRAM. THE GUIDE ALSO DESCRIBES A SIMILAR PROGRAM IN WEST PHILADELPHIA AND LISTS FEDERAL AGENCIES TO CONTACT ON ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM, AND TABLES WITH INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE BLOCK CONTACTS. IT GIVES POINTERS ON SETTING UP BLOCK MEETINGS, RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL FIRST BLOCK MEETING, FORMING A BLOCK ASSOCIATION, AND SETTING UP A NEIGHBORHOOD WALK. IT PRESENTS SUMMER SAFETY HINTS, SENIOR CITIZENS' SAFETY HINTS, AND CHILDREN'S SAFETY HINTS. DRAWINGS COMPLEMENT THE TEXT. (PRG)