People of all ages must be made aware of what they can do to prevent themselves, their families, neighbors, and co-workers from being harmed by drugs, violence, and other crime. Personal injury, financial loss, and community deterioration resulting from crime are intolerable and require action by the whole community.

Crime prevention initiatives must include but go beyond self-protection and security to promote collaborative efforts to make neighborhoods safer for all ages and to develop positive educational opportunities for young people.

Adults must invest time, resources, and policy support in effective prevention and intervention strategies for youth, and teens must be engaged in driving crime from their communities. Effective crime prevention programs excel because of partnerships among law enforcement, other government agencies, civic groups, schools, faith communities, businesses and individuals as they help to nurture communal responsibility and instill pride.