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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN SOLUTION OF UNSOLVED FELONY CASES

NCJ Number
56967
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 46 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 41-43,80
Author(s)
R D DOERING; T O MORGAN
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES CENTRAL FLORIDA CRIME WATCH, INC., A PROGRAM WHICH HAS CAUSED THE REDUCTION OF CRIME AND THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN GOODS AT NO PUBLIC EXPENSE, THROUGH THE PUBLICIZING OF FELONY CRIMES IN THE NEWS MEDIA.
Abstract
CENTRAL FLORIDA CRIME WATCH, INC. IS A SELF-SUSTAINING, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH PROVIDES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITH INFORMATION ON UNSOLVED FELONY CRIMES AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. CRIME WATCH USES THE NEWS MEDIA ON A WEEKLY BASIS TO RE-ENACT UNSOLVED CRIMES AND SOLICIT INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC THAT THE AGENCIES HAD BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THROUGH THEIR NORMAL INVESTIGATIONS. THE CRIME WATCH PROGRAM PROVIDES A VEHICLE FOR THE OPEN COOPERATION OF CITIZENS AND POLICE, BEING AN INDEPENDENT CORPORATION, PERMITS ANONYMITY AND REDUCES THE PERCEIVED RISK OF EXPOSURE TO REPRISAL. ALTHOUGH THE DRAMATIZED CASES THEMSELVES USUALLY REMAIN UNSOLVED, THE RE-ENACTMENTS, PRODUCED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT, TEND TO TRIGGER CITIZEN RESPONSE ON OTHER CASES. CRIME WATCH IS BASICALLY A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WITH ONE PAID STAFF MEMBER. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION CONCERNS THE PROCEDURES FOR THE DRAMATIZATIONS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF THE PROGRAM. (TWK)