Join with OJP to Celebrate Safe Communities in October

With kids across the country heading back to school, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) is working to remind Americans that the safety of our children and the safety of our neighborhoods go hand in hand. The welfare of our young people is a direct link to the health of our communities.

Many of our crime prevention efforts involve protecting children and teenagers. Through programs like AMBER Alert and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program, administered by our Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, we are working to prevent child abductions and online child sexual exploitation. We are also working to prevent cyberbullying by educating teens and parents about ways to avoid harassment and threats through the Internet and other technology.

In October, OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and the National Crime Prevention Council will recognize Crime Prevention Month and will help local communities organize safety-focused events October 2 – 4 in an effort to Celebrate Safe Communities. The Celebrate Safe Communities initiative helps spotlight communities’ crime prevention efforts, enhance public awareness of vital crime prevention and safety messages, and recruit year-round support for ongoing prevention activities that help keep neighborhoods safe from crime. This initiativewill help Americans of all ages recognize that a safer community is no accident and that crime prevention is everyone’s business every day of the year.

Visit CelebrateSafeCommunities.org to learn more about the Celebrate Safe Communities initiative and to find out what you can do to keep your community – and your kids – safe.