Violence, Crime & Safety

Below are some of the best guides and resources available for teachers, police officers and community members who want to address issues of violence, crime, punishment and safety through dialogue and deliberation.

Guides to Dialogue and Deliberation

Balancing Justice: Setting Citizen Priorities for the Corrections System

1996. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

$1.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

The Busy Citizen?s Discussion Guide: Protecting Communities, Serving the Public: Police and Residents Building Relationships to Work Together

2000. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

$1.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Building Learning Communities

This report from NLC's Advisory Council Futures Process suggests ways municipal officials can help build learning communities that encourage and enable citizens to prepare for life and work in the emerging knowledge-based local economy. $10.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Building Strong Neighborhoods: A Study Circle Guide for Public Dialogue and Community Problem Solving

1998. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A four-session discussion guide on many important neighborhood issues including: race and other kinds of differences; young people and families; safety and community-police relations; homes, housing and beautification; jobs and neighborhood economy; and schools. $5.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Building Strong Neighborhoods for Families with Children: A Guide for Public Dialogue and Problem Solving

2000. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A four-session discussion guide to help people make their neighborhoods better places for families with children by identifying challenges and opportunities, and working toward solutions. $5.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

The Busy Citizen?s Discussion Guide: Violence in Our Communities

1994. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

$1.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Confronting Violence in Our Communities: A Guide for Involving Citizens in Public Dialogue and Problem Solving

1994. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A four-session discussion guide examining how violence affects our lives, what causes violence, and what can be done in neighborhoods and in schools. $5.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Crime and Punishment: Is Justice Being Served?

2001. National Issues Forums.

What should be the priorities of the criminal justice system? How do we promote safety while protecting individual rights? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Is it time to close the prisons?

Fall 2000 issue. YES! magazine.

The magazine?s Discussion Guide Series is designed to stimulate meaningful conversations in the classroom or in discussion groups. Go to www.futurenet.org/discuss.htm.

Off Balance: Resetting the Scales Of Civil Justice

1996. National Issues Forums.

Just about everyone says something is wrong with our civil justice system. Something needs to be done. But what? As state and federal legislators consider ways to change the laws governing wrongful injury, citizens can help shape the public debate by discussing three major approaches to making the system more fair and rational. This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Our Nation's Kids: Is Something Wrong?

1997. National Issues Forums.

Most American children are in good shape. But 1 in 4 adolescents abuses drugs, lags in school, or gets in trouble with the law. And an enormous number of kids experiment with drugs and alcohol, cheat at school, and are rude to adults. What does it all mean, if anything? What should we do? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Police and Urban Youth Relations: An Antidote to Racial Violence

1995. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Police Use of Excessive Force: A Conciliation Handbook for the Police and the Community

1999. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Protecting Communities, Serving the Public: Police and Residents Building Relationships to Work Together

2000. Study Circles Resource Center (SCRC).

A five-session discussion guide designed to help communities bring police and residents together to build trust and respect, develop better policies, and make changes for safer communities. $5.00. Download for free at www.studycircles.org/pages/pub.html or complete the order form at www.studycircles.org/pdf/orderform.pdf.

Responding to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents on College/University Campuses

2003. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Violent Kids: Can We Change The Trend?

2000. National Issues Forums.

Every day it seems there is more shocking news about young people killing, committing suicide, or doing both. If violence is a cry for help, what is it that children and teenagers need? How can individuals help reduce the violence? This nonpartisan guide is used for citizen deliberations in National Issues Forums. $3.90 (or download free at www.nifi.org). Order from Kendall Hunt Publishing at 800-228-0810 or use the order form at www.kendallhunt.com/order/index.html.

Resources for Addressing and Preventing Youth Violence

Adventures in Peacemaking: A Conflict Resolution Guide for School-Age Programs

William J. Kreidler and Lisa Furlong. 1996. Educators for Social Responsibility.

Designed to meet the unique needs of afterschool programs, camps, and recreation centers, this guide contains hundreds of hands-on, engaging activities that teach basic conflict resolution skills through cooperative challenges, drama, crafts, music and even cooking. Also included are easy-to-implement strategies and tips for providers to both reduce conflict in their programs and to intervene effectively when conflict does occur. Adventures in Peacemaking blends ESR's innovative conflict resolution curricula with Project Adventure's activity-based programming. $25.95. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Before Push Comes to Shove: Building Conflict Resolution Skills with Children

Nancy Carlsson-Paige and Diane E. Levin. 1998. Educators for Social Responsibility.

For Calvin and Angela, trash day is the best day of the week to find great playtime items. But when they end up in a conflict that results in anger and put-downs, they find themselves searching for a way to communicate and arrive at a solution that makes both of them happy. By using Best Day of the Week as a starting point, Before Push Comes to Shove shows teachers how they can begin to build conflict resolution skills in young children in ways that are meaningful and embedded in every day school experiences. $14.95. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Conflict Resolution in the High School

Carol Miller Lieber. 1998. Educators for Social Responsibility.

This comprehensive, sequenced curriculum will help secondary educators address conflict resolution and problem solving; build community and create a Peaceable Classroom; diversity and intergroup relations; and social and emotional development. Includes sections on implementation, assessment, and infusion of conflict resolution throughout a standard curriculum. $38.00. Order at ESR?s online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Conflict Resolution in the Middle School

William J. Kreidler. 1997. Educators for Social Responsibility.

Highly acclaimed, this guide features 28 skill-building sections to help students address the conflicts that come with adolescence. Recent additions to the guide include seven implementation models; sections on creating a classroom for teaching conflict resolution, developing staff and parent support, and assessing student learning; an infusion section with includes math and science; and a section on adolescent development exploring gender and race. $38.00. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Creative Conflict Resolution

William J. Kreidler. 1984. Educators for Social Responsibility.

This widely used and highly recommended book is a definitive manual that provides elementary school teachers with thoughtful, effective ideas for responding to every day classroom conflicts. Teachers learn to turn conflict into productive opportunity, helping students deal nonviolently and constructively with anger, fear, aggression, and prejudice. Included are over 200 classroom-tested activities and games and over 20 different techniques with examples. $17.95. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Early Childhood Adventures in Peacemaking, 2nd Edition

William J. Kreidler and Sandy Tsubokawa Whittall. Educators for Social Responsibility.

Recently revised, this unique guide uses games, music, art, drama, and storytelling to teach young children effective, nonviolent ways to resolve conflicts. It also provides caregivers with tools for helping young children develop key conflict resolution skills. This new edition contains sections on developmentally appropriate practice; tips on classroom set-up; instructions for incorporating social and emotional skills into daily routines; suggestions for when things don't go as planned; and materials and activities for parents to help reinforce the themes, skills, and concepts of a Peaceable Program at home. $24.95. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Elementary Perspectives: Teaching Concepts of Peace and Conflict

William J. Kreidler. 1990. Educators for Social Responsibility.

One of ESR's best selling books, this curriculum offers more than 80 activities that help teachers and students define peace, explore justice, and learn the value of conflict and its resolution. Students read, write, draw, role-play, sing, and discuss their way through a process that helps them acquire the concrete cooperative and conflict resolution skills needed to become caring and socially responsible citizens. $30.00. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Kids Working It Out: Stories and Strategies for Making Peace in Our Schools

Kids Working It Out offers educators and parents a guide to the most current and effective school-based conflict resolution programs and shows how these programs can make a positive difference in our schools. Covers a wide range of topics? curriculum integration, peer mediation, restorative justice, and others? and shows what it takes to implement an effective program in any school, and any community. $35.00. Order at the Educators for Social Responsibility online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Making the Peace: A 15-Session Violence Prevention Program for Young People

Paul Kivel & Allan Creighton with the Oakland Men's Project. 1997.

This book is written to help young people break away from violence, develop self-esteem, and regain a sense of community. It provides exercises, role-plays, in-class handouts, homework sheets, and discussion guidelines to explore issues such as dating violence, gangs, interracial tensions, suicide, sexual harassment, and the social roots of violence. The 15-session program has three parts: The Roots of Violence; Race, Class, and Gender; and Making the Peace Now. $24.95. Order at ESR?s online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Partners in Learning: From Conflict to Collaboration in Secondary Classrooms

Carol Miller Lieber. 2002. Educators for Social Responsibility.

Good teaching not only supports the intellectual development of adolescents--it nourishes their spirits and touches their hearts. Partners in Learning is an essential tool for helping secondary classroom teachers make this happen. Partners in Learning is a practical and hands-on guide organized around ten core practices that will enable students and teachers to work together toward common learning goals. Each practice includes classroom-tested tools, strategies, and routines that make a positive difference in students' motivation to learn and succeed. This guide also includes a chapter on classroom management and discipline, a guide for setting up the classroom to support these practices, and a detailed plan for integrating community building, student orientation, and course content into the first month of school. With hundreds of activities and tips, this guide is an essential for every high school classroom teacher. $38.00. Order at ESR?s online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Preventing Youth Hate Crime

1998. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

School Violence in America's Cities

National League of Cities

Findings of a survey conducted provides a broad overview of recent trends in school violence, actions taken to maintain school safety and citations of local initiatives. $10.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Students Resolving Conflict: Peer Mediation in Schools

Richard Cohen. 1995.

This popular guide provides information for designing, implementing, and operating a peer mediation program in your school or classroom. Through in-depth sample dialogues, activities, and role-plays, you are walked step-by-step through the process of creating a peer mediation program. Includes worksheets, forms, and background lessons on conflict resolution. $18.95. Order at the Educators for Social Responsibility online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc.

Teaching Young Children in Violent Times, Second Edition

Diane E. Levin. Educators for Social Responsibility.

The new edition of this highly acclaimed book is a must for early childhood educators, parents, and policy makers. It helps teachers create a Peaceable Classroom, where children learn peaceful alternatives to the violent behaviors modeled for them in society. This extensively revised and updated edition features new material for a post-September 11th world including a new chapter on helping children deal with violence in the news. $23.95. Order at the ESR online store, at http://esrnational.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc, or call 800-370-2515 during normal Eastern time business hours.

Twenty Plus Things Schools Can Do to Respond to or Prevent Hate Incidents Against Arab-Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs

2001. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Additional Resources

Avoiding Racial Conflict: A Guide for Municipalities

1991. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Blueprint for Partnership

National League of Cities.

Offers a practical approach to assessing the relationship between a police department and the community. Shows how to mobilize task forces to assess police-community relations. Provides tips on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting findings. $20.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Domestic Terrorism: Resources for Local Governments

National League of Cities.

Offers tools for cities to use in the implementation of local domestic terrorism preparedness. Provides municipal officers a context for decisions as well as a resource for reference purposes. $15.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Exemplary Programs in Criminal Justice: Innovations at the Local Level

National League of Cities.

Compiled from NLC's Annual Innovation Awards Competition. Highlights 100 innovative, practical ideas and effective programs in criminal justice from communities around the nation. $25.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Hate Crime Training: Core Curriculum for Patrol Officers, Detectives & Command Officers

1998. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Innovative Approaches to Rethinking Public Safety

National League of Cities

Highlights entries submitted in NLC's 1995 Innovation Awards Competition which focused on public safety, emergency preparedness, and community policing. $15 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Punishing Criminals: Pennsylvanians Consider the Options

1992. Public Agenda.

For this study of attitudes toward crime and corrections, Public Agenda surveyed a representative group of Pennsylvanians twice ? once prior to any discussion, and then again after the group had been presented with educational materials and participated in discussions about the issues. Order at www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports.cfm.

Punishing Criminals: The People of Delaware Consider the Options

1991. Public Agenda.

Using the same approach taken in the Pennsylvania study, Public Agenda surveyed Delaware residents' attitudes about the criminal justice system and various sentencing options. Order at www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports.cfm.

Responding to Incidents Involving Allegations of Excessive Use of Force: A Checklist to Guide Police Executives

The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

Rethinking Public Safety

National League of Cities

One in a series from NLC's Advisory Council Futures Process highlights practical strategies local officials are using to fight crime and violence. Shows how to facilitate a city-wide focus on public safety. $10.00 for nonmembers. Order at the National League of Cities? online catalog at www.nlc.org/nlc_org/site/inside_nlc/catalog/default.cfm or call in your order to 202-626-3150.

Twenty Plus Things Law Enforcement Agencies Can Do to Prevent or Respond to Hate Incidents Against Arab-Americans, Muslims, and Sikhs

2001. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

"What happens if I'm stopped by an officer of the law?" (Que pasa si me para unpolicia u otro oficial de la ley?")

2001. The Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice.

CRS assists communities with crisis management and violence reduction, provides this and many other freely downloadable publications at www.usdoj.gov/crs/publist.html.

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