Involving youth as partners in crime prevention
Abstract
Despite negative stereotypes, youth exhibit a high rate of volunteerism and commitment to community. Channeling this energy and commitment into crime prevention programs can enhance communities in a variety of ways — including safer schools and safer neighborhoods. This effective practice, excerpted with permission from the National Crime Prevention Council's Young People as Active Partners in Crime Prevention (1996), offers tips for partnering with this important population in crime prevention programs.Issue
Partnering successfully with youth requires planning and knowledge, as this is a population with specific ideas and vision.Action
According to the National Crime Prevention Council, effective practices when forging partnerships with youth include:- Have a plan to attract participants and supporters.
- Involve teens at all levels of the project: planning, fundraising, carrying out the project, evaluating.
- Address a problem or issue perceived as important by teens.
- Offer opportunities for teens to make their own decisions and cope with the consequences.
- Include a learning component.
- Earn the community's respect.
- Promote responsibility and enhance self-esteem.
- Encourage participation of all teens, not just those who are easily motivated.
- Build on teen's need for friendship — a central theme in adolescents' daily life.
- Stress the collaborative nature of the program in the needs assessment and design stages.
- Move to action as quickly as possible.
- Get to know each teen in the program and listen to his or her opinions, concerns and ideas. Assess his or her strengths, talents, and interests.
- Teach and guide teens as the program proceeds. Don't withdraw when the activities get underway, bus shift as much as possible to being a participant rather than the leader.
- Help teens to secure community resources and support.
- Provide opportunities for teens to reflect on and evaluate their experiences with the program.
- Reward and recognize personal growth and other accomplishments.
- Demonstrate respect for teens' abilities and contributions.
- Be consistent in a leadership approach.
Context
In a 1995 Harris Poll, Between Hope and Fear: Teens Speak Out on Crime and the Community, almost nine in ten of the teens surveyed stated they would get involved in programs to end violence if only they knew what to do. More than seven in ten were already participating in activities in their community. This high rate of volunteerism and commitment to community has been confirmed by a 1992 Independent Sector survey.
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), in collaboration with CHP International, Inc., provides training and technical assistance to all streams of National Service-AmeriCorps State/National, AmeriCorps*VISTA, AmeriCorps*NCCC, Learn and Serve America, and National Senior Service Corps. This work addresses supervision, public safety, and multi-site management. NCPC's efforts are directed at increasing capacity and skills among national service programs engaged in crime prevention as well as enhancing the quality of supervision for programs that address environmental, educational, and human needs issues. NCPC also provides follow-up technical assistance including site visits, telephone consultation, a special Web page, and periodic mailings.
Citation
National Crime Prevention Council. Topics in Crime Prevention: Young People as Active Partners in Crime Prevention. Washington, D.C.: Corporation for National and Community Service, 1996.
This publication was made possible through Cooperative Funding Agreement No. 95-DD-BX-Koo3 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice. Opinions are those of NCPC or cited sources and do not necessarily reflect U.S. Department of Justice policy or positions. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Office for Victims of Crime.
This is an update of Young People in Crime Prevention Programs, published by NCPC in 1989.
Outcome
With idealism, commitment and a desire for recognition, youth can — and do — make a positive difference in the areas of crime prevention and community improvement. Prevention programs involving young people:- Reduce crime among a highly victimized population.
- Change the negative image of teenagers held by many citizens and thus encourage responsible, accountable behavior.
- Welcome youth as active partners in efforts to improve the community.
- Help reduce and solve quality of life crimes: litter, loitering, noise, public drunkenness, disorderly behavior, vandalism.
- Promote safer schools, where young people learn, socialize and chart their course to maturity.
- Build channels of communication between youth and community institutions such as law enforcement, schools and government.
- Teach young people skills needed to survive and succeed in the world.
Posted On
January 26, 2005For More Information
Resources
From The Resource Center Library:
Topics in Crime Prevention: Young People as Active Partners in Crime Prevention
Item Number: M0188