School-age youths in both school and nonschool settings. Seven third-party evaluations document positive feedback from teacher and students.
Students gain knowledge of how to protect themselves, their friends, and their families from crime.
The education component includes a 200-page text that can be infused into a wide variety of courses, including civics, social studies, health, and sociology. It has been used with youth-membership organizations, in community centers, and by law enforcement officers working with youths. The program appeals to all youths because it draws on their experiences and helps them view those experiences in the context of crime's impact on those they care about. Teens, Crime, and the Community is enriched by engaging community members as resource persons to augment lessons and help students relate crime issues to their own community settings. It also provides public service learning opportunities such as peer assistance, cross-age teaching, and community improvement projects.