The Evolution Of Citizen Involvement - From Neighborhood Watch To Twitter

Written by KOVA Corp

For people across several generations in America, Neighborhood Watch signs have been a regular feature in their lives. Posted on signposts around certain neighborhoods, they signal that a group of citizens in the community is committed to working with law enforcement to keep that area safe and secure.

The Neighborhood Watch began in 1972, in a move towards involving citizenry in the fight against a high rate of crime, specifically burglaries. The idea is that “formal” control agencies like law enforcement can’t be everywhere at once. But by involving “informal” control through citizens who want a safe neighborhood, crime can be reduced and neighborhoods can take some responsibility for their own safety.

The Current State Of Affairs

Fast-forward to our current decade. The problem of crime hasn’t magically been solved, but the technology available to fight it, and involve citizens, has been drastically advanced. In fact, thanks to the internet, and especially social media, it’s now easier than ever for citizens to connect with law enforcement and report suspicious activities, crime, or vandalism in their community.

How Can Citizens Become Involved?

The Neighborhood Watch hasn’t gone anywhere. There are still thousands of Neighborhood Watches across the United States, and their classic Boris the Burglar sign is known by every would-be criminal.

But there are now many other ways that citizens can become involved in helping law enforcement keep our communities safe. Citizens now get Amber Alerts on their phones when a child is abducted. They can also tip off police about crimes through social media and their phones. Interestingly, it’s been found that people are often more forthcoming using this method than they would be in person.

In fact, in 2013, a survey from the International Association of Chiefs of Police found that over 80% of departments had used social media to help solve crimes. Another 73% said they felt social media had helped to improve relations between police and their community. That’s because social media lets normal citizens interact with departments and officers in ways they never could have before.

Humanizing Police

An interesting side-effect of law enforcement social media accounts is that in many cases they help to humanize police. When police departments respond humorously to would be trolls online, or post funny photos, they help the general public to remember that there are people behind those accounts, just as there are people behind those uniforms. That’s an important goal for all police departments, especially during times when mistrust of law enforcement is high. Social media’s ability to humanize law enforcement officers is not a small matter.

Technology may have advanced considerably since the founding of the Neighborhood Watch, but the need for citizen involvement is still the same. Whether it’s through social media or at a monthly meeting, there’s always something citizens can do to help keep their communities safe.

If you’d like to read more about how technology is affecting different areas of our public safety system, then read “Why 911 Dispatching is So Different Today.”

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