Crime Wave Magazine

The National Crime Prevention Council has been around since 1982 (two years after McGruff the Crime Dog first appeared). McGruff is only a part of the company’s public persona, however. In addition, the NCPC sponsors a number of programs in schools and neighborhoods around America.Project Safe Neighborhoods is a program for reducing gang and gun violence in America. Recently, the Council has been especially focused on keeping girls out of gangs, since new statistics show that the number of members is increasing. Recently, it was estimated that 60,000 to 80,000 females are gang members today, whether due to peer pressure, lack of money, drug use, abuse, or a relationship with a gang member. To combat these statistics, the Council is offering Anti-Gang Training Conferences and workshops to inform parents and teens alike of the risks.The importance of communication in preventing crime is growing. Members of Neighborhood Crime Watch groups already know how a well-organized program can lower crime rates, and the NCPC is emphasizing the need for parents to understand the risks that their children are facing. Also, the Council supports understanding between teens and students of different backgrounds. In the Circle of Respect, students are encouraged to manage conflicts by using respect, and not allowing rudeness or prejudice to lead to violence. Likewise, in the Underserved Teen Victims Initiative, teens from especially targeted groups like ethnic minorities and LGBT are supported through various campaigns. These also include networking with other teens in the area to promote understanding.The ability to prevent rising crime waves and violence lies in raising understanding about what causes it. After all, security systems are useful for protecting homes, but prevention is always the best defense.