Neighborhood Crime Watch (NCW)

Neighborhood Crime Watch is an effective method of preventing crime and reducing fear among citizens. It can forge bonds between residents and improve relations between law enforcement and the community.

Taking Action

If a neighborhood would like to form a Neighborhood Crime Watch, it should contact the Sheriff's Office for assistance in training members in recognizing suspicious activity and reporting skills and for information on local crime patterns. The NCW group recruits its members, keeps up-to-date on new residents and makes special effort to involve the elderly, working parents, and young people to create a diverse mix of participants.

Additional Information

For additional information about Neighborhood Watch, please contact Jimmy Goodman, Crime Prevention Specialist at 850-606-3334.

NCW Responsibilities

• Maintain the following positions: Chairperson, Block Captains (number is based on size of neighborhood) and regular residence members
• Report suspicious activity or persons or crimes accurately and immediately to local law enforcement.
• Mutually assist and encourage the accomplishment of home security inspections, and target hardening.
• After completing the 4 basic training meetings maintain a continuing system for the dissemination of educational materials relative to self-protection and criminal awareness and adjust program emphasis in accordance with the most current of this information. It is recommended that the continuance of these meetings be on a monthly basis.
• Assist any victims of crime in your neighborhood after an incident. Assist elderly or debilitated citizens and children with a basic understanding of how to protect themselves against criminal victimization such as keep valuable property indoors, always lock your vehicle, keep your home well lit outdoors, trim bushes and hedges so they don't cover windows, etc.
• Encourage citizens to come forward as witnesses.

What a Neighborhood Crime Watch IS NOT:

• NOT… A vigilante force working outside the normal procedures of law enforcement.
• NOT… A program designed for participants to take personal risks to prevent crime.
• NOT… A 100% guarantee that crime will not occur in your neighborhood.