Stand With Your Neighborhood on National Night Out

Tonight, on the 31st anniversary of National Night Out (NNO), communities and neighborhoods across the nation will stand together to promote crime prevention awareness, safety, and neighborhood unity. August 5th is “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” an annual observance highlighting the importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement in our fight for a safer nation.

The National Night Out campaign is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

National Night Out 2013 brought together over 37.8 million people in 16,242 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. NNO activities include front porch vigils, block parties, cookouts, parades, festivals, visits from local officials and law enforcement, safety fairs, and youth events. National Night Out 2014 is expected to be the largest yet.

This is No Game

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

The most effective crime prevention method
is being aware of your surroundings.

There have been many recent reports about a very dangerous, and sometimes deadly, activity that teens refer to as the “knockout” game. Also called “polarbearing,” the object of this brutal pastime is to target a random victim with the intention of knocking them out in one single punch. Victims are typically assaulted, but not robbed. There is no underlying purpose or motive apart from the thrill of hitting someone to see if you can strike them down like a bowling pin.

Though reports of “knockout” first surfaced in New York, viral internet videos have triggered a troubling nationwide trend, sparking a string of attacks in New Jersey, Missouri, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and most recently, San Diego. “Knockout” attacks have resulted in major injuries, and in a few cases, death.

As a leading victim’s advocate in California, I am disturbed to learn of this senseless act of violence disguised as entertainment, and I want to remind everyone to take precautions to minimize the chance of being victimized. The most effective crime prevention method is being aware of your surroundings. And, as a parent, I’d like to urge other parents to do your part by teaching your children fantasy versus reality. Remind them that life is not a video game; you cannot play with real lives. Encourage children to pursue their talents and passions, as kids who direct their energy in a positive way are less likely to suffer from depression, to bully and/or be bullied, and to satisfy their “boredom” with destructive activities like “knockout.” Lastly, I ask Californians everywhere to report violence if you experience or see it. If you should ever become a victims of this type of senseless and cowardly crime, CalVCP is here and available to help.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

State Victim Advocate Leader Reminds Public to Practice Safe Behaviors in Light of Rising Crime Rates

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

Violent crimes in California increased 2.92% last year, according to the FBI’s newly released Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report, January-December, 2012. These surprising statistics indicate a reversal in the declining trend the state has seen in past years and compel me to remind everyone to stay alert and practice safe behaviors.

It was disturbing to learn that 60% of our communities are experiencing an increase in violence. Unfortunately, we cannot always prevent crime, but there are things each of us can do to minimize our risk of becoming a victim. I encourage everyone to practice these safe behaviors:

• Be diligent in locking your home and car doors
• Install surveillance and/or alarm systems
• Stay alert of your surroundings
• Take a self-defense course
• Use safe and secure practices while online
• Tell trusted family or friends where you are going and with whom
• Practice safe boundaries
• Get your neighbors involved through a neighborhood watch or neighborhood policing program
• Trust your gut-level feelings; if a situation feels bad, try to find safety immediately

To manage the continued demand for victim services, CalVCP regularly communicates with law enforcement and other first responders across the state to provide current program information and materials to ensure victims are readily informed of available assistance following an incident. We have increased our outreach efforts to underserved and vulnerable populations, including those in rural locations, or those with physical or cultural barriers. We also provide relevant program and victim resource information through this blog, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and YouTube.

I would like to hear how you are practicing safe behaviors. Will you email me at publicaffairs@vcgcb.ca.gov or share your suggestions with us on social media? I look forward to your comments and suggestions; let’s practice safety together!

If you are a victim of a crime, we encourage you to find help. There are a number of resources available to assist victims of crime. Victims can reach out to their local victim witness assistance center to learn of available services, including CalVCP.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Internet Safety for Kids

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

Last week, I discussed that June is National Internet Safety Month and listed several tips on how to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of cybercrime. But, it occurs to me that the amount of time our young people spend online lends itself to a separate discussion all of its own.

When it comes to cybercrime, children of all ages can
access limitless content with only a few keystrokes.

The Internet provides us access to limitless information, which is used by billions of consumers daily. People of all ages use this tool to research, connect with others, shop, advertise, pay bills, watch movies and more. Nearly any convenience is a few keystrokes away, but there are risks involved.

When it comes to cybercrime, children are very vulnerable. A study by Pew Research Center, showed that 95 percent of teens access the Internet, making them the largest demographic of Internet users and a target for a multitude of online predators. Child abductions and sexual assault have occurred because predators were able to access personal information through chat rooms, social media sites or online gaming sites.

For example, 36-year-old Tony Mcleod, known as the “PlayStation Predator,” lured a 14-year-old California boy to Los Angeles Airport, where the two boarded a plane to Mcleod’s home in Tampa, Florida. Mcleod and the boy had been in contact for a month, when his parents discovered that the boy had been receiving explicit texts and photos from him. The boy’s parents immediately reported him missing when he did not return from school one day. Detectives discovered that McLeod and the boy were on a flight to Tampa. When they reached the Tampa airport, McLeod was confronted by FBI officials and the boy was returned to his California home.

The PlayStation Predator is just one of many online criminals waiting to lure children away from their homes. Here are some tips for keeping your children cyber safe:

• Keep your computer visible. By placing your computer in a high-traffic area of the house, you can keep an eye on the sites your child visits and ensure that they are safe and appropriate. 
• Set rules and a password. Monitoring your child’s Internet usage and limiting the sites they visit can help you keep track of your child’s online safety. Let him or her show you what they like to do online, so you’re aware. You can also set a password to limit your child’s Internet access to when you allow it.
• Know who they’re messaging. Being aware of who your child is messaging, whether it’s through social media, email, online gaming or webcam usage, can enable you to make sure your child isn’t communicating with strangers. 
• Use Internet security options. By using these options, you can limit what websites show up on your browser. This can prevent access to questionable and explicit sites. 
• Don’t forget cellphones. TextGuard, My Mobile Watchdog and iWonder Surf, are mobile applications that can help you keep track of your child’s incoming and outgoing calls, texts, and web browsing habits. 
• Talk to your child. Make your children aware of the dangers of online predators and help them understand that by monitoring their Internet usage, you are helping to keep them safe. Keep in mind that even teens need to be reminded of Internet precautions. Encourage them to share Internet safety advice with their friends.

To learn more about Internet safety for children, visit NetSmartz.org.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

Every Child Deserves to Be Safe

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

On May 25th 1979, six-year-old Etan Patz went missing from the streets of New York, while on his way to school. His disappearance sparked national media coverage and though his body was never found, Patz was declared dead in 2001. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the anniversary of Patz’s disappearance as National Missing Children’s Day in 1983. This observance aims to highlight the problem of child abduction, promote ways to keep children safe and provide support for families of victims.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children®

 has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more

 than 183,000 missing children since it was founded in 1984.

In the past 23 years, there has been a 35 percent increase in the number of missing children who are found. Unfortunately, 2,200 children are still reported missing daily. We can help raise awareness about child abduction and promote safety in several ways:

Stay informed. Keep yourself updated on missing children in your community. Report any sighting of a missing child to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Their hotline (1-800-843-5678) is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have children, take the time to learn about and exercise child safety and abduction prevention and communicate safety information to your child. For example, make sure your child knows what to do if a stranger approaches. In addition, keep track of how much personal information your child reveals online. You can find more child safety tips at http://www.take25.org/.

Spread the word. Share information about missing children and exploited children with others in your community.

Join the effort. NCMEC offers three campaigns that help promote awareness about missing and exploited children. Their Take 25 Campaign, encourages families to spend 25 minutes talking to children about safety and abduction prevention. NCMEC also has a campaign that educates communities on child sexual exploitation and how to recognize it and a campaign that encourages the use of photos to help find missing children.

Learn more about the missing children in your community by visiting www.missingkids.com. Let’s work together to keep our children safe.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB). VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.

National Night Out 2012

By Julie Nauman, VCGCB Executive Officer

This year, “America’s Night Out Against Crime” will be held on Tuesday, August 7th from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m., in communities throughout the nation. It is an evening for neighbors to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights and get reacquainted. This observance helps to build police-community partnerships, raise crime prevention awareness and encourage neighborhood camaraderie. Events such as block parties, cookouts, ice cream socials, parades, visits from police and community leaders, neighborhood and flashlight walks, youth activities, and goal-setting are planned to help promote safety and crime prevention in local neighborhoods.

2012 will mark the 29th National Night Out (NNO). The first NNO was held in 1984 with 2.5 million people in attendance nationwide. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), NNO was formed to unite neighbors from communities large and small to find ways to help fight and reduce crime. NNO is the perfect conduit because it strengthens police-community partnerships; generates support for local anticrime programs and heightens crime and drug prevention awareness.

The success of the first NNO was a clear indication that people wanted to protect their neighborhoods against drugs and crime. Now that some police forces have been cut, it is especially pertinent. NNO has grown considerably since then, with over 37 million people participating in the event last year, including all 50 states, Canadian cities and military bases worldwide.

NNO has consistently proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable event to promote neighborhood spirit and safety in each community. Let’s all get acquainted with our neighbors on August 7th and help “Give Drugs and Crime a Going Away Party!”

If your community has not been a part of this dynamic program, it’s not too late. Information is available on the National Association of Town Watch website to help you get started on your own local chapter.

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Julie Nauman is the Executive Officer for the Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board (VCGCB), appointed in 2008. VCGCB provides compensation for victims of violent crime and helps to resolve claims against the State.