 
October is Crime Prevention Month. To kick things off, the National Crime Prevention Council and the National Sheriff’s Association teamed up for the Celebrate Safe Communities initiative, designed to promote local crime prevention action. It’s the perfect opportunity to get your neighbors involved, and to learn what you can do to fight and prevent crime all year long. The goal is to try to remind all Americans that a safe community is no accident, and prevention is everyone’s business.
For the last several months, communities all over the country have been preparing for CSC events. Even if you haven’t registered in advance, you can still work to spearhead prevention activities and mobilize your community. Here are a few examples of what some communities have been doing to reclaim their streets:
- Throw a block party to help recruit residents to join a Neighborhood Watch.
- Set up a local crime reporting tip line. Add local law enforcement contacts, and share prevention tips with your neighbors.
- Organize a local park clean up or a graffiti paint-out. Take before and after photos so neighbors can see the progress.
- Start an anti-bullying program at your child’s school.
- Contact the media to have them help highlight positive efforts being made in the community to combat crime.
- Organize a picnic for children with McGruff the Crime Dog.
Whether you have an established Watch group, or you’re simply a concerned citizen looking for ways to make changes in your neighborhood, it’s important to spread the word about crime prevention and work year-round to keep your community safe. Check out the CSC site for more tips and resources about how you can take advantage of Crime Prevention Month to launch your activities for the rest of the year.
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