SR0091 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0091 LRB098 08501 GRL 38612 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate recognize Neighborhood Watch programs as an effective means for keeping crime out of neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, Under such programs, neighbors and law enforcement agencies have worked together to create an effective crime fighting team; and

WHEREAS, Neighborhood Watch teaches children respect for the law, reinforces community values, and encourages the kind of individual responsibility that makes for healthy, creative neighborhoods populated by safer and happier citizens; and

WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, Neighborhood Watch programs expanded beyond their traditional crime prevention role to help neighborhoods focus on disaster preparedness, emergency response, and terrorism awareness; and

WHEREAS, Recent tragedies, including school shootings, show that much still remains to be done to ensure the safety of our schools and our children; and

WHEREAS, Neighborhood Watch programs should play a significant role in making neighborhood schools safe through the collaboration of citizens and law enforcement; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we state our belief that a school crime watch program should be established based on the Neighborhood Watch concept and independently or alternatively incorporated into the Neighborhood Watch program in order to make schools safer for our children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all citizens of this State to participate in a school crime watch program and to develop partnerships with school authorities and law enforcement to report suspicious activities before they can escalate.