A few months back at my council office I picked up information on the Unit Kit Crime Prevention which is a program of the Boy Scouts of America. Since I am not really familiar with earning this award I sent out a cyber-request to some scouters to see how they handled this program.

Thanks Mary for sending this
It has been a few years since we did the program, but here is what I remember. Each Den did Crime Prevention Posters which were hung up at school by their grades drinking fountain. I was especially proud of my son's which was walnut shell halves glued to the poster as bodies to which he added limbs , head ect. The caption was " YOU HAVE TO BE NUTS TO JOIN A GANG" They all seemed to like it. They also gave crime prevention tips each morning at school over the intercom. For one of the Den meetings we had a Police Captain come and fingerprint each boy, he also brought the Polaroid and took "mug" shots to go along with the fingerprints. For our Pack Meeting we presented each parent with the fingerprints and mug shot on a permanent record card for their safekeeping. One of the DARE Officers came to the meeting and made a presentation Mary Fournier, Carlsbad, NM DL, WL, ACM or RTC

This one is from my good friend Amy on the BSA Crime Prevention program
Two years ago, at our council Scout Show, we had the local police set up different areas that the boys had to make decisions about different types of crime. They would put their answers on an answer sheet. Then, a policeman would talk to them about each crime. McGruff the crime dog was there too. They gave out prizes when the boys answered questions correctly and made it a lot of fun. The booth was sponsored by the Optimist club and was called "respect for the law". A Crime Prevention application was given to each boy so his activities could be checked off and signed by the appropriate person. Hope you can use this idea.
YIS, CSManyhats

Another great idea from another great friend, Judy
One thing we did with Michael's den (Bear year) was take them to the grocery store (Big Bear) for a tour. Although we saw the bakery and the computer banks that control the meat cases, the highlight was the video rooms and the cameras that watch shoplifters. The staff had several videos cued up to show the boys people shoplifting, and gave a big lecture about how this makes everyone's food more expensive. Of course, in the videos in question, the "thieves" were caught before they left the store. They also showed how the cameras at the check out counter can zero in on each cash register to watch the cashiers and customers exchanging money.
It was definitely the highlight of the trip! We've also toured the local police station, and had members of the Charleston Bike Squad (police officers) come out to meetings. Our pack does have an advantage because we have a husband-wife pair of police officers among our parents. There is also a CIA site for kids:
http://www.odci.gov/cia/ciakids/

Dennis got this information for me about the Crime Prevention Program. He is Cubmaster of Pack 635, Desert Pacific Council and Roundtable Commissioner, Kit Carson District 26. He posted a question on Scouts-L for me and got these answers. Thanks Dennis!
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Well not original, but in our town of Tonawanda, the Town Police and youth board had MacGruff the Crime Dog, who is house trained and will make house calls! We also have officer associated with DARE program who will also make appearances associated with the crime prevention programs. The county to our north, Niagara county, also ran the program in the JAIL - with an overnight stay included!!! (no frills!!!) I was not there, but reports were that the facility itself made many kids think that they would not want to spend another night there! I would contact local Town police, country sherifs and politicians to see what local resources are available - maybe to look good for election time?
Scouter Don
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A great place to send young people to visit is the Department of Justice website at
http://www.usdoj.gov
where they will find a link to a number of web pages designed for "kids" including a crime prevention page. Try out:
http://www.ogc.secnav.hq.navy.mil/ogcwww/kidlink1.html
and http://www.ogc.secnav.hq.navy.mil/ogcwww/kidlink2.html
for some great links to U.S. Government web pages aimed at providing educational materials to youth.
MikeBowman
Michael F. Bowman --- Professor Beaver NE-CS-41
Speaking only for myself in the Scouting Spirit
from Alexandria, Virginia - mfbowman@usscouts.org
Webmaster: http://members.aol.com/netcommish
http://usscouts.org/
http://usscouts.org/profbvr

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From: joerhawkins@abts.net (Joe Ray Hawkins)
This is one area where being in a small town helped. We started at the Police station for a full tour. Cars to finger printing. The next week we worked on the associated rank requirements. Two weeks later, we had a visitor for "Crime Stoppers" in as a speaker. We allowed six weeks on the rank advancement area, then helped make "Crime Stopper" posters {Crime through the eyes of a CS can make a pretty good poster}. They used them in local shops. We concluded the program with a review at the county jail by the Sheriff (who just happens to be the Advisor of the Law E. Exp Post.) and assisted them in an engraving identification project at a local festival.
Joe Ray Hawkins
CM 272 ASM 274
Piedmont (NC) Foothills District

Don from California sent this to me
In January of 1998 we announced the launch of a series new of Web pages dedicated to the "BSA CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM." As you are aware, the program is designed for Cubs, Boy Scouts, Explorers (and even civilians.) The aim of our pages is in helping (Cub) parents and leaders to work with youth on crime prevention within the BSA Program, the family, and the community. Included are ideas for strategies and projects that can involve individuals or whole families in preventing crime. Also included in our pages are:
- Award requirements
- The award request form
- Badge/patch image
- Lapel pin image
- Certificate image
and - Pocket card images
Finally, to assist you in finding Crime Prevention information on the web and within the SCOUTS-L archives, we have also added a section dedicated to this kind of search.
C'mon by and check it out at:
http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/crime-prevention.html
Check out our "BSA CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM" pages ! Linked there is a simple search tool that queries several sources for Crime Prevention project ideas.
Last year our Pack did a little project with the local FBI office. It culminated with a visit by them to one of our Pack meetings to discuss special weapons and tactics. The Cubs loved it! (so did everyone else!)
Don
(\__/) .' ))) Donald De Young - Walnut Creek, CA, USA
/o o \/.~ Visit the "Virtual Cub Leader's Handbook" at:
{o_, \ { http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/
/ , , ) \:
`~ '-' \ } ))
( ( ).' E-mail me at: baden@value.net

Lin from Rhode Island sent in a great tip along with a Service Project (Good Turn) idea.
Crime Prevention Idea:
The big thing around here is seat belt safety. I am going to speak with the PD dept. on having the boys hand out fliers about seat belt safety in their areas and at the local stores. I am also going to find out if they will do a community talk and we will sponsor it. Last year we did a stranger safety talk. The boys made posters and put them up around town, in the community police depts., and local school. We held a community talk with the local PD giving the talk. Went well..

Idea for service project given to me: Have the boys bring in soap, toothbrushes, etc. personal care items. Have each den responsible for one item. Get all the boys together and place one of everything inside ziploc bags. Bring these to local homeless shelters, travelers' aide sites, and local churches. I know one church in R.I. that brings them to area ships from around the whole dock and they don't have these types of items. These people are on the boat for 1 year and send the money they make home to their families.
Lin, Pack 5, North Providence

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