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TEENS, CRIME AND THE COMMUNITY (Community Works)
TCC was created to reduce alarming high rates of teen victimization and to engage young people in their communities.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation 38.0 percent of crime committed in schools and colleges from the year 2000-2004 were done by youths between the ages of 13-15 years old. The second largest group was 16-18 year olds (30.7 percent), followed by those offenders aged 19 or older (18.2 percent) and 10-12 year olds (11.0 percent). Offenders 9 years old and under accounted for 2.1 percent of the offenders where the age was known. By looking at only those offenders for whom the age was known, offenders 18 years of age or younger were 4.5 times more likely to be involved in crime at schools than older offenders.
Crime committed by youths is therefore one of the most troublesome social problems in the nation today.
TCC is an initiative of the National Crime Prevention Council. Created in 1985 with support from Street Law, Inc. and the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, TCC brings together the crime prevention expertise of the National Crime Prevention Council and the innovative educational and curriculum expertise of Street Law, Inc.
The program teaches young ones ways to protect themselves from crime and provides them with opportunities to develop safer more vital communities. TCC seeks to tap and focus teen’s energy, talent, and enthusiasm so they can participate in their communities as responsible citizens.
The Goals of Community Works & Youth Safety:
- Increase teen awareness of their vulnerability to crime.
- Educate teens on how to protect themselves and their communities.
- Motivate teens to take action in their communities.
- Help teens understand the costs of crime and what can be done to prevent it.
- Foster community relations by bringing community resource people into the sessions.
- Bond youth to the community through increased self esteem.
- Increase teen empathy toward victims of crime.
The purpose of Community Works will give young people the message that they can change things for the better. The program’s three components—interactive sessions that provide practical crime prevention knowledge, community resource people, and service-learning projects—provide them with the tools and skills they need to create that change.
Community Works program is based on more than 15 years of experience working in schools, juvenile justice facilities, and community-based organizations. The program is the culmination of an effort to bring the strengths of the TCC program to school and community settings. Community Works is designed to provide teens with highly interactive, topical sessions that appeal to young people and hold their interest.
Community Works is a program that combines education and action to reduce teen victimization and involve young people in service to their communities. The program develops self-esteem, leadership, and citizenship skills by engaging young people in action to positively affect the circumstances of their lives. This program provides information that will motivate young people to take safety seriously and to make their communities better and safer.
Community Works are designed to teach youth how to examine violence and law-related issues in the context of their schools and communities and apply what they learn to real life circumstances.
Community Works are divided into two sessions. In these sessions young people begin to get the “big picture" of their community. They learn about the different types of crime, the costs and consequences of crime, conflict management strategies, how crime affects communities, and what community prevention programs and services are available to them.
Session one introduces factual information, then giving young people the opportunity to practice practical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills. The session in volume two focuses on serious youth-related topical issues such as bullying, dating violence, gangs, substance abuse, underage drinking, and police-youth relations.
In a comprehensive Community Works program, community resource people (people in the community with special knowledge or expertise) help teach some of the sessions, and the young people complete at least one service-learning project.
Community Works FAQs
2007 Community Works Program Results
2007 Community Works User Survey Instructor Comments
If you would like more information about TCC and the Community Works Program, please contact us.
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