Neighborhood Watch Program [Department of Justice] Law and Legal Definition
The Neighborhood Watch Program is a United States Department of Justice initiative run under Citizen Corps that focuses on residential areas through citizen involvement. It was developed as a result of the multiple requests from sheriffs and police chiefs around the country who were looking for a crime prevention program that would incorporate citizen involvement and address the increasing number of burglaries taking place, especially in rural and suburban areas. The program aims to expand the national neighborhood watch initiative beyond its original crime prevention role to assisting and preparing neighborhoods for disasters and with emergency response.
The program receives funding from the National Sheriffs' Association and the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, the U.S. Department of Justice.
