collaborate online Instantly
Today's technology presents great incentive to civilians looking to engage in neighborhood watch programs. It is safer and easier than ever, especially with iCAN.
The explosive growth of security CCTV cameras in large, medium, and small-sized cities across America provides communities with the opportunity to participate.
With that in mind, we developed the Interactive Community Alert Network (iCAN), a patented system that enhances neighborhood watch with web-based technology and security CCTV cameras (where available).
When iCAN users observe suspicious activity, they log on to the iCAN incident reporting page and complete a simple form describing the event. Reporters are presented with still photo images of local CCTV camera coverage areas to help them identify the event location.
GooD to know
According to National surveys, about 41 percent of Americans reside in communities covered by some form of neighborhood watch program. This level of participation makes neighborhood watch the largest single organized crime-prevention activity in the nation.
Neighborhood crime watch programs can be valuable tools for police and security forces in reducing crime and connecting with the public. However, most crime watch programs have two serious drawbacks. They rely on personal contact, which often deters many citizens from "getting involved" for fear of reprisal. They also require community organizers to constantly motivate the community and coordinate their efforts with police forces.
real-time Civic Engagement using iCAN
How It Works:
Community residents sign-up for program participation with local law enforcement
Citizens are provided access to an iCAN website with still panoramic pictures of neighborhood CCTV camera views
All communication is done using only a personalized username
Simply enter a brief description of the incident on the iCAN portal, click or tap on the panoramic still photo representing the location of the event location, and send.
iCAN alerts go directly to the local Public Safety Agency
Public Safety officials are instantly alerted to iCAN reports and police CCTV camera views automatically pan to the indicated area
Police and iCAN reporters collaborate and exchange incident information online until the alert is resolved
Tried and true
iCAN was pioneered in New Jersey with tremendous success. The program’s ease of citizen participation, anonymity, and immediate police response and collaboration between reporters and security forces led to a significant drop in crime because would-be criminals perceived a lower community tolerance for crime and increased risk of detection and apprehension.
Equally important, it empowered iCAN users to work with law enforcement without fear of reprisal and significantly reduced fear-of-crime in program coverage areas.
iCAN provides users not only with a traditional tip line, text messaging, and public safety alert capabilities, but also with the ability to collaborate online with security forces throughout the reported event, receive investigative outcomes, and for security forces to view events in real-time.