Section 589.303

Title XXXVIII CRIMES AND PUNISHMENT; PEACE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC DEFENDERS

Chapter 589

Effective - 28 Aug 1994, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  589.303.  Center established, powers. — The "Missouri Crime Prevention Information Center" is hereby established within the department of public safety.  The center, subject to appropriation and within the limits of available funds from private sources, gifts, donations, or moneys generated by center-sponsored activities, may:

  (1)  Develop, plan and implement a comprehensive, long-range, integrated program which will mobilize all Missouri residents, including the youth of this state, in a year-round preventive effort to reduce crime, violence, drug abuse and delinquency;

  (2)  Provide a mechanism to support, unify, promote, implement, and evaluate crime prevention efforts;

  (3)  Act as an information clearinghouse for crime prevention efforts;

  (4)  Provide a means by which law enforcement and prevention-related agencies, civilian personnel, and the education community may acquire the resource materials, technical assistance, knowledge, and skills necessary to develop, implement and evaluate crime prevention and intervention programs;

  (5)  Provide ongoing, programmatic support to crime prevention efforts of law enforcement and local crime prevention organizations, enabling them to develop programs within their jurisdiction or community;

  (6)  Assist law enforcement agencies and local crime prevention organizations to increase the awareness of communities, businesses, and governments regarding the need for crime prevention while offering information on current and future programming in their communities and in this state;

  (7)  Increase the availability of resource materials which may be utilized by local crime prevention programs, analyze data, evaluate needs, and develop specific crime prevention strategies;

  (8)  Act as a liaison between local, state, and national agencies concerning crime prevention issues;

  (9)  Coordinate efforts with any statewide associations or organizations which are also concerned with reducing crime, violence, drug abuse, and delinquency and receive from such associations or organizations advice and direction for the operation of the center and related activities;

  (10)  Operate as a resource for local governments and, upon the request of any local agency, may:

  (a)  Provide technical assistance in the form of resource development and distribution, consultation, community resource identification, utilization, training, and distribution, consultation, community resource identification, utilization, training, and promotion of crime prevention programs or activities;

  (b)  Provide assistance in increasing the knowledge of community, business, and governmental leaders concerning the theory and operation of crime prevention and how their involvement will assist in efforts to prevent crime; and

  (c)  Provide resource materials to, and assistance in developing the skills of, law enforcement personnel, which materials and skills are necessary to create successful crime prevention strategies which meet the needs of specific regions and communities throughout the state.

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(L. 1994 S.B. 763)