What Are Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs?

Community-based crime prevention programs have been conceptualized in various ways. In this context, community-based crime prevention programs include those that operate within the community and involve community residents actively working with their local government agencies to address issues contributing to crime, delinquency, and disorder. Community members are encouraged to play a key role in problem identification and planning solutions to problems in their communities. There is wide variation in community-based crime prevention programs based on factors such as program focus, program rationale, community context (e.g., racial and social class composition in the community), and level and type of community involvement. In addition, some community-based crime prevention programs are operated by community faith-based organizations. Community-based crime prevention programs covered here include:

Community policing (policing approach that promotes and supports strategies to address crime-related problems through police-community partnerships)
Neighborhood watch (a community mobilization strategy in which citizen groups organize to prevent and report neighborhood crime and disorder)
Comprehensive programs (programs such as Comprehensive Communities and Weed and Seed that incorporate multiple approaches to respond to problems within a community)

BJA-Supported Resources Related to Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs

Community-based Problem-Solving Criminal Justice Initiative
National Association of Town Watch

Other Resources Related to Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs

Center for Substance Abuse Prevention
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America
Community Capacity Development Office
The National Center for Community Policing
Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS)
Office of Justice Programs, Community-Based Programs
Task Force for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives

State and Local Resources Related to Community-Based Crime Prevention Programs

Maryland Crime Prevention Association
City of Federal Way, Washington Citizens and Police Partners for a Safe Community

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