Subcommittee members include District Attorney George Dentes, Ithaca Police Chief Rick Basile, and Judge John Sherman. The group gathered and studied research on crime prevention programs locally and nationally. Education alone is insufficient. Classroom programs like D.A.R.E., while helping students feel more comfortable about police, have not been shown to prevent future drug use or crime. Behavior modification does work.
Solutions tailored to suit individual schools also have a high success rate.
Neighborhood or community policing works if it is intensively applied, is personal, and is respectful of residents. Community involvement in crime reduction, such as reporting on drug houses, is also effective. It is anticipated that this report will generate extended discussion and possibly some long-term policy changes. Joseph plans to take it to school boards, for instance, to inspire them to approach crime prevention in some new ways. Rep. Tim Joseph, 277-2519.