Neighborhood Watch
The idea behind Neighborhood Watch has probably been around as long as humans have banded together for common comfort and safety. In the United States, formal Neighborhood Watch efforts date back to the Town Watch in colonial America. The modern version of Neighborhood watch endorsed by the National Sheriffs’ Association was developed in the early 1970s and was in part spurred by the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York.
Structure of Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch groups organized per the guidelines set out by the National Sheriffs’ Association typically consist of a Coordinator, Block Captains and community members. Community members typically report activity to their Block Captains who report it to the Coordinator who in turn may report it to the liaison officer from the local police department or Sheriffs office. The Neighborhood Watch Coordinator is responsible for overall management of the group and acts as a liaison between the group and law enforcement. Block Captains are typically responsible for 10-20 houses and act as a liaison between community members and the Watch Coordinator.
This structure has it benefits – and its potential problems.
First, the benefits: The single primary point of contact between law enforcement and the watch coordinator makes involvement with multiple watch groups more manageable for law enforcement. The relationship between the two also helps establish and maintain trust – an essential component for successful neighborhood watch. The handing down of information from community member to block captain to coordinator to law enforcement also helps filter information so that reports are consistent, not superfluous and don’t overwhelm law enforcement.
Potential problems with this structure: The program often suffers when key individuals leave the group, the flow of information is often one-way, all participating members are not included in all communication and potentially time sensitive information may be delayed.
Nation of Neighbors was designed to increase the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch by allowing equal contribution by all parties, improving the flow of information and increasing participation. Nation of Neighbors also creates a permanent record of reports in your community which may be combined with crime data to help law enforcement pinpoint and prevent crime and apply resources appropriately. Law enforcement maintains the single point source for reports but now has the option to receive that information electronically. Information can even be gathered in real-time while on patrol.
If you already have an existing Watch group, we think you will find that Nation of Neighbors works well with your existing structure - the Coordinator serves as the Community Group administrator, the Block captains become the Community Group managers.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch has proven highly effective when a large percentage of the community population actively participates – the usual expectation is 70% participation. The problem is that in many, if not most, communities, participation lags and communication networks break down as people move away or their schedules change. This is only made worse by our modern lifestyle – many of us commute and spend precious little time actually in our community getting to know our neighbors. Additionally, information about crime or suspicious activity is traditionally handled by the liaison to local law enforcement and may not be available to everyone participating in the Neighborhood Watch program – at least not in a timely manner.
Nation of Neighbors is intended to supplement and enhance traditional Neighborhood Watch. We use the internet and cell phones to instantly broadcast reports of suspicious activity to all community participants and law Enforcement and provide a searchable database of all local activity. We also provide other emergency notification tools and provide free tools to foster community participation and provide group management.
By increasing the efficiency of Neighborhood Watch we’re hopeful that the requirement of 70% participation will be decreased – and by making Neighborhood Watch easier and more interactive we’re hopeful that more members of your community will participate and stay involved.
Do we need an active Neighborhood Watch Program to use Nation of Neighbors?
No. You can use Nation of Neighbors in any way you find useful – manage your HOA, collect reports on local potholes, monitor gypsy moths or stray pets…
However, if you do not have an active Neighborhood Watch program for your community we hope you consider starting one.
Structure of Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch groups organized per the guidelines set out by the National Sheriffs’ Association typically consist of a Coordinator, Block Captains and community members. Community members typically report activity to their Block Captains who report it to the Coordinator who in turn may report it to the liaison officer from the local police department or Sheriffs office. The Neighborhood Watch Coordinator is responsible for overall management of the group and acts as a liaison between the group and law enforcement. Block Captains are typically responsible for 10-20 houses and act as a liaison between community members and the Watch Coordinator.
This structure has it benefits – and its potential problems.
First, the benefits: The single primary point of contact between law enforcement and the watch coordinator makes involvement with multiple watch groups more manageable for law enforcement. The relationship between the two also helps establish and maintain trust – an essential component for successful neighborhood watch. The handing down of information from community member to block captain to coordinator to law enforcement also helps filter information so that reports are consistent, not superfluous and don’t overwhelm law enforcement.
Potential problems with this structure: The program often suffers when key individuals leave the group, the flow of information is often one-way, all participating members are not included in all communication and potentially time sensitive information may be delayed.
Nation of Neighbors was designed to increase the effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch by allowing equal contribution by all parties, improving the flow of information and increasing participation. Nation of Neighbors also creates a permanent record of reports in your community which may be combined with crime data to help law enforcement pinpoint and prevent crime and apply resources appropriately. Law enforcement maintains the single point source for reports but now has the option to receive that information electronically. Information can even be gathered in real-time while on patrol.
If you already have an existing Watch group, we think you will find that Nation of Neighbors works well with your existing structure - the Coordinator serves as the Community Group administrator, the Block captains become the Community Group managers.
Enhancing the Effectiveness of Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch has proven highly effective when a large percentage of the community population actively participates – the usual expectation is 70% participation. The problem is that in many, if not most, communities, participation lags and communication networks break down as people move away or their schedules change. This is only made worse by our modern lifestyle – many of us commute and spend precious little time actually in our community getting to know our neighbors. Additionally, information about crime or suspicious activity is traditionally handled by the liaison to local law enforcement and may not be available to everyone participating in the Neighborhood Watch program – at least not in a timely manner.
Nation of Neighbors is intended to supplement and enhance traditional Neighborhood Watch. We use the internet and cell phones to instantly broadcast reports of suspicious activity to all community participants and law Enforcement and provide a searchable database of all local activity. We also provide other emergency notification tools and provide free tools to foster community participation and provide group management.
By increasing the efficiency of Neighborhood Watch we’re hopeful that the requirement of 70% participation will be decreased – and by making Neighborhood Watch easier and more interactive we’re hopeful that more members of your community will participate and stay involved.
Do we need an active Neighborhood Watch Program to use Nation of Neighbors?
No. You can use Nation of Neighbors in any way you find useful – manage your HOA, collect reports on local potholes, monitor gypsy moths or stray pets…
However, if you do not have an active Neighborhood Watch program for your community we hope you consider starting one.