CRIME PREVENTION - Your Family / Yourself
Neighbors helping neighbors to reduce or eliminate crime in their own neighborhood is the basis of our crime prevention program. The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office offers a full complement of training programs designed to train and assist county residents in maintaining the security of their homes and the tranquility of their community life.
Lady Beware Presentations
Lady Beware Presentations are geared towards teaching both women and men rape and sexual assault prevention. A trained crime prevention specialist will explain to ladies and men the various ways a sexual predator may stalk his prey. We discuss prevention methods, how to formulate defense measures in your subconscious so you will be ready if an attempted assault occurs, and how to defend yourself without learning martial arts. Learn how to anticipate potential dangers, have a plan ready, and reduce the odds of being a victim.
Telemarketing Fraud
Telemarketing Fraud On television you can usually tell who the bad guys are. But, how about in real life? If the crooks looked or talked like they were the bad guys they could not successfully separate you from your money. The voice of a fraudulent telemarketer may sound like the friendly man next door or some other nice person you know. They will say "please" and "thank you" and may say "dear" frequently. They may shout with glee when they tell you that you have won the "big prize" and just ooze with happiness at your good fortune. Law enforcement officers have a very difficult time in prosecuting telemarketers because the victims are convinced they can't be crooks... they are too nice. Of course not all telemarketers are crooks trying to cheat you, but some are. Some of the ways you can suspect a con is if someone wants to force you to make an immediate decision. They may also say they have a runner in the neighborhood and can pick up your check in five minutes. They may ask you tell them your bank account number or ask for a credit card number. All of these are red flags that someone is trying to cheat you.
Elder Abuse
Elder Abuse is a relatively new phrase in our vocabulary. Incidents of abused older people have happened for several years, but were never talked about. For some of Utah's elderly and disabled adults, life is not easy or safe. They are the victims of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Perhaps these victims are dependent on the abuser for care or maybe they are isolated from the community. Fear, shame and denial often prevent them from seeking help.
Stranger Smart
Stranger Smart teaches children what strangers may say or do in their attempt to victimize these young people. Teaching a child to have a family "code word" and what to do if they are frightened won't guarantee their safety, but it does give them the opportunity to understand the danger and know what to do if confronted. Schools, day care facilities, churches or neighborhoods may arrange for this valuable training. This 30 minute program is recommended for children K through 3rd grade.
Safe Kid
Safe Kid is similar to, but not exactly the same as Stranger Smart. In addition to discussing how to be aware of strangers and what to do if someone tries to kidnap you, our Safe Kid program incorporates safety in the home and safety to and from school. We also discuss safety in the home, to and from school safety and try to make the child feel safe without inducing paranoia.
Street Wise
There are three locations where you may be in daily danger. They are your home, your work and the roadway to and from work. Both men and women need to be aware of the predators that roam our streets in search of victims. The offense may not always be a sexual offense. In some cases armed robbery is the motive for attacking a defenseless citizen. Our Street Wise presentation makes information available to you on how to avoid looking like a victim and knowing the appropriate actions to take if attacked.
Not My Kid
It's been said that nothing strikes fear in the hearts of citizens, particularly older persons, than confronting a group of gang members. This situation may occur on a public street, on a bus, while visiting a mall or some other location.
Law enforcement intelligence officers are seeing an increased degree of organization and sophistication among local gangs. This trend is driven by the desire of the gang or individuals within the gang to profit from their criminal activity.
Once the gang's criminal activity becomes profitable, it will be very difficult to dissuade a young person who is considering becoming a gang member to seek out employment at minimum wage. Gang members will be receiving thousands of dollars each week selling illegal drugs and other types of criminal enterprise.
We have a continuing problem of denial by parents that their children are gang involved. Judge Andrew Valdez is one of the featured persons in this video. He says, "we can't expect to convince a young person to abandon the gang lifestyle unless we provide an appropriate substitute. Hopefully, that is family."
Not This Kid
Not This Kid is a video from Utah Attorney General Jan Graham. "Not This Kid" has been developed to help younger children make the decision NOT to get involved in the gang lifestyle. This program discusses the hazards of gang involvement and provide successful conflict resolution ideas and recommendations.
Bicycle Rodeos
Community Oriented Policing deputy sheriff's establish a training course for younger bicycle riders to test their riding skills and teach safety.
Operation "Safe Passage"
Operation "Safe Passage" is a cooperative effort between school administrators, the Parent-Teacher Organization and the Sheriff's Office. This program is intended to recruit parent volunteers at participating schools who are willing to locate themselves along the Safe Walking Route to offer additional security and safety to children walking along the route. Background checks will be conducted on each volunteer and they will wear a distinctive vest and carry an identification card while participating in this program.
Safe Place
Safe Place is an optional program available to schools under the auspices of the Salt Lake County Youth Services Center. This program is coordinated by the Salt Lake County Youth Services Center and is available for use by school administrators and parent-teacher groups. The Safe Place program is intended to assist youngsters who are afraid of strangers, bullies or some other danger or concern while they are en route to and from school.
Point of contact is Steven D. Titensor, M.Ed.MFT, Safe Place Coordinator, Salt Lake County Youth Services Center, 177 West Price Avenue, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. The telephone number is (801) 264-2273 and the FAX number is (801) 269-7565. Another optional program is the McGruff Program. Point of contact is the Utah Council for Crime Prevention, 486-8691.
Domestic Violence Prevention
Domestic Violence Prevention teaches options and techniques to prevent being a victim or acquainting current victims of resources available to assist them.
Dating Violence
Dating Violence affects one in ten teen couples and frequently leads to domestic violence if the couple stays together and is married at a later time. Dating violence and dating abuse is more than just hitting. It includes yelling, threatening, name-calling, saying, "I'll kill myself if you leave me," obsessive phone calling and extreme possessiveness.
If you or someone you know is the victim of dating violence tell your parents, a friend, a school counselor, the resource officer at your school, or someone you can trust. Abusers usually try to isolate you from these people to keep you under control. The more isolated you are from your family and friends, the more control an abuser has over you.
If you are the friend of someone being abused express your concerns, tell your friend you are worried, support, but don't judge. Take care not to put yourself in a dangerous situation with the victim's partner by attempting to be a mediator. Leave that to professionals. Call the police if you witness an assault. Tell an adult such as the school principal or resource officer.
Home Security
Do you have dead bolt locks on all entry doors? Do you have solid core or metal doors at all points of entry into your home including the garage? Is your house number visible from the street? Could a Sheriff's deputy or fireman find your home day or night? The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office encourages you to look at your home in the way a potential burglar might.
Burglars don't like wasting time. Time wasters, such as attempting to bypass dead bolt locks, defeat an alarm system or some other protection device may persuade them to go elsewhere. Double check to see that all doors and windows are securely locked when leaving your home. Keep doors locked while you are at home for additional safety. Know who is at the door before opening the door. This is your last line of defense. Use a viewer to see who is outside. We suggest that you not open the door to strangers.