Dear SOS Members:

We received word this afternoon on a fantastic project going on in Savannah that could use your help. Officer Jennifer Meadows has initiated a program in West Savannah called Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, which has a lot to do with cleaning up our neighborhoods in an effort to clean up crime. Please take a moment to read her letter (below) and click on the link to see a list of items needed for donation. Cleaning up the city is a simple and effective method for crime prevention, and needs the attention of the entire community.

Thanks for your participation, and don’t forget to sign up for one of our three projects.

Rebecca Smith rebecca@saveoursavannah.com

Volunteer Director

Save Our Savannah

912.961.8882

My name is Officer Jennifer Meadows. I am a patrol officer in Precinct One my patrol area is Beat Six. Beat Six consists of the area between West Bay Street, South to Comer Street and East Lathrop to I 516. The neighborhood called West Savannah. This is an older neighborhood filled with wonderful people and a lot of history. Unfortunately, through time, the area has become a known drug area and people from all over Savannah venture in to buy and sell drugs.

There is a theory in the area of crime prevention called, Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, or CPTED.CPTED incorporates principles from both Defensible Space and Manageable Space theories to provide guidelines for manipulating the environment as a means to reduce and prevent crime. “Designing Out Crime-Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design�, Susan Gleason and Paul R. Wilson, 1989)

There are seven CPTED strategies to identifying and finding solutions that will help to reduce fear and prevent crime in a neighborhood. They are Terroriality/Defensible space, Natural surveillance, Landscaping, Fencing, Windows, Natural access control, Formal organized surveillance, Target hardening, Access control, Activity program support.

In the past six months I have been working with the community, using CPTED as a model, to make the area less attractive to criminals. One of the projects was a Curb Appeal Contest in which residents could compete to win prizes based on home improvements. Unfortunately, only three residents responded and all are either elderly or disabled or both. So, I decided we would change the project from a contest to just helping these three concerned residents make the improvements needed to their homes and property.

This is where you come in. Because these folks can not afford to make the changes themselves, I am seeking donations from area businesses and individuals for the supplies we need to make the changes. Click here for a list of what all is needed for each residence. If you are able and willing to donate an item please call me at 484-7195. I can also be reached through the precinct at 652-6560.

Thank you,

Officer Jennifer Meadows

West Chatham Precinct

295 Police Memorial Drive

Savannah, GA 31405