Family Violence 

Beyond Burglary Prevention

Neighborhood Watch is not a new concept — in fact, it has become one of society’s most

effective tools to reduce residential burglary.

Neighborhood Watch is very simple — neighbors get to know each other and work

together in a program of mutual assistance. They are trained to recognize and report

suspicious activities in their neighborhoods. But Neighborhood Watch can do much more

than just help reduce theft and burglary.

Now neighbors are being taught to detect another kind of residential crime — family

violence.

What is Family Violence?

Family violence consists of child abuse — physical or mental — of children, adults or

seniors in a family setting. Family violence is broken down into three major categories:

child abuse, battered women, and elderly victimization. It is not uncommon that if one

type of abuse is occurring within a home, other forms of abuse may be (or soon will be)

taking place.

Through family violence reduction information, you can learn...

• How to recognize signs of abuse

• How to contact family–help agencies; and

• How to help prevent family violence and abuse.

Your Involvement...

Does not mean physical intervention. It does not mean snooping on your neighbors. It

simply means a willingness to help by recognizing the obvious signs — the continuously

injured child, the couple who becomes involved in physical confrontations, or the longterm,

unexplained absence of the senior living next door.

How To Start A Neighborhood Watch/Family Violence

Prevention Program

1. Contact your local law enforcement agency and ask them to assist you in developing a

Neighborhood Watch/Family Violence Prevention Program.

2. Contact your local child abuse council, battered women’s shelter, family service

center, etc., to arrange for speakers at Neighborhood Watch meetings on the programs

and the services they provide. They can also provide you with printed material

or assist you in locating it. 3. Plan your Neighborhood Watch/Family Violence Prevention Program Meetings to

cover each family violence category (child abuse, battered women & elderly

victimization).

4. Develop and print a list of agencies which will provide emergency assistance to

abused children, battered women and victimized elderly. Distribute this list to all of the

members of your Neighborhood Watch group.

5. Encourage your Neighborhood Watch members to start Block Parents groups and

support prevention programs for children in the schools, scouting programs,

churches, etc.

Help stop family violence

Family violence reduction information in a Neighborhood Watch setting is a new concept.

It needs your support.