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10 Things YOU Can Do To Stop Crime
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Teach children how to reduce their risk
of being victims of violent crime. Insist on knowing at all times where
your kids are, what they are doing, and who they are with.
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Get involved. Volunteer to help in community
and neighborhood anti-crime and other community improvement efforts. Encourage
groups you belong to -- religious, civic, social -- to help stop crime.
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Use common-sense tips to reduce your
risk of being a crime victim. Stay in well-lighted, busy areas; travel
with a friend if possible; walk in a confident, assured way. Avoid known
trouble spots.
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Report crimes and suspicious activities
to police; agree to testify when necessary. Stand up for what you believe
in if you want a safe community.
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Get to know your neighbors and agree
to look out for each other. Get organized; work with the police.
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Find ways to settle argurments without violence.
If you resort to violence to settle disputes, this is what you will teach
your child. Be a good role model.
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Use common courtesy. It helps ease tensions
that can lead to violence. Teach your kids that good manners are important.
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Don't carry a weapon. You lose, whether
you use it or it's used on you.
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Don't support illegal activities, like
buying stolen property or using illegal drugs. It's the wrong message to
send a child, and it involves you in criminal activity.
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Volunteer your home as a reliable source
of help for kids who are scared or need assistance.
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10 Things Your COMMUNITY Can Do To Stop Crime
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Work with public agencies and other organizations
-- neighborhood-based or community-wide -- on solving common problems.
Don't be shy about letting them know what your community needs.
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Find positive ways for youth in the neighborhood
to spend their spare time, through organized recreation, tutoring programs,
part-time work, and volunteer opportunities.
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Set up a Neighborhood Watch or a community
patrol, working with police. Make sure your streets and homes are well
lighted.
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Build a partnership with police, focused
on solving problems instead of reacting to crises. Make it possible for
neighbors to report suspicious activity or crimes without fear of retaliation.
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Take advantage of safety in numbers to
hold rallies, marches, and other group activities to show you're determined
to drive out crime and drugs.
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Clean up the neighborhood! Involve everyone
-- teens, children, senior citizens. Graffiti, litter, abandoned cars,
and run-down buildings tell criminals that you don't care about where you
live or each other. Call the city public works department and ask for help
in cleaning up.
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Ask local officials to use new ways to
get criminals out of your building or neighborhood. These include enforcing
anti-noise laws, housing codes, health and fire codes, anti-nuisance laws,
and drug-free clauses in rental leases.
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Form a Court Watch to help support victims
and witnesses and to see that criminals get fairly punished.
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Work with schools to establish drug-free,
gun-free zones; work with recreation officials to do the same for parks.
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Develop and share a phone list of local
organizations that can provide counseling, job training, guidance, and
other services that neighbors might need.
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