Neighborhood watch
Evidence Ratings
Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.
Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results. Learn more about our methods
Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Evidence Ratings
Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.
Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.
Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results. Learn more about our methods
Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
Community conditions, also known as the social determinants of health, shape the health of individuals and communities. Quality education, jobs that pay a living wage and a clean environment are among the conditions that impact our health. Modifying these social, economic and environmental conditions can influence how long and how well people live.
Learn more about community conditions by viewing our model of health.
Residents who participate in neighborhood watches report suspicious or potentially criminal behavior to local law enforcement. Residents work together to help law enforcement solve problems, and are typically led by a block organizer who serves as the liaison with local police1. Some neighborhood watches conduct security surveys and encourage residents to mark their property with personal identifiers2.
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
Reduced crime
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
Reduced vandalism
What does the research say about effectiveness?
There is strong evidence that neighborhood watches reduce crime; watches have been shown to reduce crime between 16 and 26%2. Neighborhood watch programs are also a suggested strategy to prevent vandalism3. Additional study is needed to confirm which neighborhood watch practices most effectively reduce crime2.
A study of neighborhood watch signs suggests that effects of these signs on individuals’ fear of burglary may vary by neighborhoods’ socio-economic condition. Signs appear to increase concerns of burglary in low income neighborhoods, especially when the sign is aged or defaced, but appear to have less effect on concerns about burglary in high income neighborhoods4.
How could this strategy impact health disparities? This strategy is rated no impact on disparities likely.
Implementation Examples
The National Neighborhood Watch and many local law enforcement agencies provide neighborhood watch volunteers with training and materials1.
Implementation Resources
NNW - National Neighborhood Watch (NNW). A Division of the National Sheriffs’ Association.
BJA-Program manual - Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). Neighborhood watch manual.
BJA-Resources for Native American - Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). Watch out, help out your community: Neighborhood watch resources for Native American communities.
Footnotes
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
1 NNW - National Neighborhood Watch (NNW). A Division of the National Sheriffs’ Association.
2 Campbell-Bennett 2008 - Bennett T, Holloway K, Farrington D. The effectiveness of neighborhood watch. Campbell Systematic Reviews. 2008:18.
3 Scott 2007 - Scott ML, La Vigne NG, Palmer T. Preventing Vandalism. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Justice Policy Center; 2007.
4 Schultz 2009 - Schultz PW, Tabanico JJ. Criminal beware: A social norms perspective on posting public warning signs. Criminology. 2009;47(4):1201-22.
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To see all strategies:
countyhealthrankings.org/whatworks