Reichert Community Safety Measure Passes House
Former Sheriff’s Bill Also Recognizes October as “Crime Prevention Month”
Washington, DC,
Oct 28 -
The House of Representatives today unanimously passed Congressman Dave Reichert’s (WA-08) legislation to designate the first week of October as “Celebrate Safe Communities” Week (CSC) and to recognize October as “Crime Prevention Month.” The measure recognizes these initiatives and promotes public safety outreach and awareness.
“I’m pleased that the House has chosen to recognize these important community efforts, because safety and crime prevention require our continued vigilance,” Reichert said. “We see that some of our cities and local communities across the country are experiencing increases in violence, and this has an impact on day-to-day living. Fear of crime affects our decisions: where to go in public, what neighborhoods to visit -- even where we shop for goods and services. By engaging the community with efforts such as Celebrate Safe Communities Week, critical connections to deter and prevent violence can be made between members of law enforcement and the communities they serve and protect.”
Held at the beginning of October each year, CSC Week highlights crime-prevention efforts, enhances public awareness of vital safety messages, and recruits year-round support for ongoing prevention activities. This year, 94 CSC community initiatives were conducted in 34 states plus the District of Columbia, assisting communities in organizing safety-focused events. CSC activities throughout the country – held in October to coincide with Crime Prevention Month – help Americans of all ages recognize that a safer community is no accident; crime prevention is the business of every citizen, every day of the year.
CSC helps to serve as a catalyst for such programs as DARE; Citizen Police Academies; Bike rodeos; and youth crime watches in schools throughout the year. CSC also helps to encourage people to participate and volunteer at their local police departments/sheriff’s offices throughout the year.
“Celebrate Safe Communities” (CSC) is in its second year and is a collaboration between the National Sheriffs Association (NSA) and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), and is supported by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
*Note: Congressman Reichert spoke on his resolution on the House Floor today. The video can be found here.
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