What Is Neighborhood Watch Allowed to Do?

You’ve likely seen a "neighborhood watch" street sign before, notifying visitors that the group will report suspicious people and activities to law enforcement. 

Generally speaking, “Neighborhood Watch” refers to nationwide crime watch and crime prevention programs where citizen volunteers patrol their neighborhoods for illegal activity.

Neighborhood watch programs are prevalent in the United States. The National Crime Prevention Council and other bodies support them as effective means of reducing crime rates. If communities implement these programs correctly, they can be valuable tools in crime prevention and neighborhood clean-up efforts.

Here, we’ll explain how neighborhood watch programs operate, including what they can and cannot do legally. We will also discuss whether community crime prevention officers and neighborhood watch coordinators are liable for injuries or damage their groups cause.

If you’re interested in creating a neighborhood watch program in your town or are facing legal action as a neighborhood watch group leader, you should consult a local attorney for help.

Neighborhood Watch Basics

The National Neighborhood Watch program began in 1972. Since then, these programs have sprouted in communities across the country.

The National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) manages the National Neighborhood Watch program with help from the Department of Justice, local law enforcement, and local communities.

The National Neighborhood Watch program seeks to accomplish the following:

• Prevent neighborhood crimes such as burglaries, robberies, and vandalism
• Improve safety in residential areas
• Help their community with emergency and disaster preparedness

Neighborhood watch typically uses one of the following approaches:

• Opportunity reduction: Using observation to spot and eliminate potential opportunities for criminal activity. This includes initiatives like “Operation Identification”. This program deters potential burglars from stealing residents’ property by marking their personal property.
• Social programs: The use of educational programs and other activities to raise awareness and target the root causes of crime, especially with younger people. This includes drug awareness programs, tutoring, sports clubs, etc.

Benefits of Neighborhood Watch Groups

An active neighborhood watch group deters crime. Criminals tend to avoid areas where the residents are organized and attentive. They would much rather operate in areas where the residents are not likely to report crime.

These programs also play a significant role in welcoming new residents and integrating them into the community. Getting to know one’s neighbors is an integral part of the program. This helps in sharing information, allowing residents to become better equipped to recognize signs of suspicious activity.

Bringing residents together also strengthens community bonds. Members get to know their neighbors and look out for each other, fostering a greater sense of belonging and civic responsibility.

Block parties are a popular activity for these groups, which helps build community spirit while deterring crime.

Training for Neighborhood Watch Members

In most towns across the U.S., local law enforcement provides guidance and training for neighborhood watch. Police chiefs often encourage their officers to participate in these sessions. During neighborhood watch meetings and training sessions, law enforcement emphasizes the importance of community involvement in crime prevention.

A key to a successful neighborhood watch program is the understanding that community members are not to behave like vigilantes. Writing down a license plate number after a hit-and-run accident is one thing. It’s another to chase down the fleeing driver in your vehicle.

Police officers can explain how to identify and report suspicious behavior, such as license numbers and descriptions of suspicious people trolling the neighborhood. They can also teach block captains how to conduct home security surveys to ensure residents do whatever they can to increase their personal safety.

Interactions With Law Enforcement

Neighborhood watch program block captains work with their local police department. However, they don’t have the power to arrest anyone or take actions typically reserved for police officers.

While members of a neighborhood watch program take measures to fight crime, there are certain things they must refrain from doing. Some of these things include:

• Stopping and questioning someone against their will: This behavior may constitute a false arrest or impersonating a police officer, leading to civil and/or criminal liability.
• Taking someone into custody: Even if someone does this for just a moment, they may be liable for false imprisonment.
• Intervening in an assault, battery, or other crime: Community watch programs should alert local law enforcement to criminal behavior, especially an assault/battery. However, they cannot intervene in the crime itself.

Law enforcement officers advise volunteers in neighborhoods known for violent crime or gang activity to keep a low profile and remain anonymous when reporting incidents. However, since neighborhood watch volunteers are often witnesses to a crime, they may have to testify in court.

What Activities Can Neighborhood Watch Groups Engage In?

Many neighborhood watch groups are successful because they are alert to community threats. Just the fact that they post neighborhood watch signs in their community helps deter would-be criminals.

Some of the activities neighborhood watch groups carry out include:

• Distribute informational materials on crime prevention and community safety
• Conduct home security surveys regularly
• Patrol the neighborhood and report any suspicious activity
• Hold meetings to discuss any issues with crime or quality of life
• Monitor strange and suspicious behavior at their neighbors’ homes while on patrol
• Share contact information with residents, such as emergency and non-emergency phone numbers for the local police, sheriff’s office, and fire department
• Maintain a close relationship with local law enforcement

What Types of Behavior Should Community Watch Members Avoid?

While it’s advantageous to have a group of community members committed to making their neighborhood a safe place, there are certain things group members should avoid doing.

Not only is it critical that they avoid putting themselves in danger, but it’s also for the best of the community to leave the actual police work to the police.

Neighborhood watch program participants must avoid engaging in the following acts:

• Attempting to apprehend a suspected thief, robber, or other criminal element
• Commit an assault or battery against a potential threat to the community’s safety
• Attempt to enforce the law
• Interfere with police activity
• Carry out vigilante justice
• Conflict with law enforcement

From a legal perspective, neighborhood watch group members and leaders must not engage in the above activities. If they engage a would-be or actual criminal, they put their lives at risk. However, they also become vulnerable to criminal and civil liability.

Talk to the law enforcement agency providing neighborhood watch training if you have questions about what you should (and should not) do as a member of a neighborhood watch program. If you find yourself on the receiving end of criminal charges or a legal summons, contact a local defense attorney right away.

Can Neighborhood Watch Members Carry Guns?

While local laws may allow members of neighborhood watch groups to carry weapons, this does not give them the right to use them against potential threats or criminals. If they do shoot someone or otherwise injure them, they face possible criminal charges and civil liability.

Legal Considerations for Neighborhood Watch Groups

Groups must follow proper protocols and not put themselves in harm’s way. Members should know not to approach or confront anyone. Their role is strictly to observe and report any concerns to the local law enforcement agency.

If a neighborhood has a homeowner’s association (HOA), it could be liable for visitors’ claims that a neighborhood watch volunteer injured them. HOAs should only establish a watch program with the guidance of local law enforcement officers.

There should be a written policy explaining that the HOA does not control the neighborhood watch group. The policy should also clarify that any neighborhood watch is an independent volunteer group.

If a crime occurs and you have any involvement, you may need to contact a local criminal defense attorney.

Have Questions About a Neighborhood Watch? Ask a Local Attorney

Public safety and home security are essential to every community. Community watch programs are a great way to keep your neighborhood safer from crime problems, reduce the fear of crime, and improve residents’ quality of life.

Neighborhood watch volunteers don’t have the same authority as the police. Contact a local criminal defense attorney today if you have a question about your local neighborhood watch program or any other criminal justice situation.