National Youth Crime Prevention Conference and International Forum

Youth Crime Watch of America's premiere event for 20 years running!

The National Youth Crime Prevention Conference is a vehicle that recognizes the valuable contributions youth can make to the crime prevention effort. Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) presents this powerful conference, where youth and their adult allies can find inspiration, valuable skills, prevention knowledge, and national resources in the fight against crime, violence, and drugs. Challenging and motivating youth to make their communities and schools safer places is one of the most effective strategies to reduce delinquency and youth victimization.

Today, more than ever, there are no limits to what youth can achieve, especially when they are equipped with the right tools, the right plan, the right support, and the right attitude. Designed for youth ages 12–22 and the adults who work with them, this four-day event will challenge all participants to mobilize, to learn, to experience, to speak, and to act.

What goes on?

Participants renew, rethink, and reenergize their dedication to crime prevention in their schools and communities by attending interactive workshops and off-site educational field trips.

Through roundtable discussions during the Youth Exploring Solutions (Y.E.S.) Forum, conference youth voice their recommendations for policymakers on reducing crime, violence, and drugs.

Conference Ambassadors, young people 14 to 22 selected to serve as youth leaders during the conference, play a vital role at the conference. They help to focus and articulate the ideas of hundreds of youth participants.

Adult participants can attend Professional Development Seminars.

And all participants have networking opportunities to build friendships and partnerships at sunrise exercises, breakfasts, luncheons, and receptions.

Who should come?

• You! Crime prevention is everyone’s business
• Youth (Consider applying for a spot as Conference Ambassador and make your contribution felt!)
• Adults who work with and for youth
• School resource agencies and officers
• Law enforcement agencies and officers
• College students
• Teachers and school administrators
• Community programs

Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. No more than five youth to one adult.

Past accomplishments

Youth and their adult allies leave the Conference prepared to take action. Some of the results of the last two Conferences include:

• Eighth graders moving to high school are working with the school administration to create a Youth Crime Watch.
• Youth are creating an initiative to work with local neighborhood corner stores to remove alcohol and drug messages near cash registers and replace them with positive messages. Store owners have been extremely responsive and one store owner even purchased a billboard for the group.
• Young people working with local corner store owners to educate them about sound nutrition and persuade them to add fresh fruits and veggies in neighborhoods where chain grocery stores have moved out.
• An alternative high school is creating a student/teacher council to work on solving problems in the school.
• Youth attendees from one city are planning their own mini-conference for 200 young people from 14 schools.
• One youth group is working with the local police department to add Cellular-on-Patrol to their school patrol.
• and tons more!

 
The 2008 conference photo gallery is now online: See pictures from our 2008 gathering in Miami.